My friend's get-together showed me why open networks are risky

We all logged into the cafe's free Wi-Fi without thinking. I later found out that could let strangers see our private stuff. How do you protect yourself when using public internet?

3 comments

3 Comments

mason.julia1mo ago

Learned this the hard way last year at the airport. I was checking my bank account on the free terminal wifi, just a quick look. Later that day, I got a fraud alert about a login attempt from another country. Now I always use a VPN on my phone before I touch anything personal in public. It adds a simple layer of security that feels worth the small hassle.

ray_king19d ago

Used to think VPNs were just for nerds and people doing shady stuff. Then my buddy had his fantasy football draft picks stolen off a coffee shop wifi, someone logged in and dropped all his good players. Watching him panic over his phone while I was trying to enjoy a latte was a real wake up call. Signed up for one that same afternoon, it's just a tap now.

reese_ward501mo ago

Yikes, airport wifi is basically a digital petri dish for hackers. I treat those login pages like they're covered in glitter, you just know it's gonna get everywhere. Guess some folks really do need that "free internet" warning label spelled out for them.