Free Public Wi-Fi is not so Free; Comes at a Cost!

Free public Wi-Fi is widely used by travelers, with 58% of Americans relying on it, according to research by Saily, an eSIM provider

While convenient, public Wi-Fi poses significant cybersecurity risks. Vykintas Maknickas, head of product strategy at Nord Security, highlights several dangers. These include man-in-the-middle attacks, where attackers intercept communication between your device and the Wi-Fi network, and session hijacking, where criminals steal session cookies to gain unauthorized access to accounts. Hackers can also set up rogue hotspots or execute evil twin attacks, tricking users into connecting to fake networks to steal data. Sniffing, where attackers use software to monitor data transmitted over a network, is another threat. The Saily survey found that American travelers spend considerable time online, with only a quarter spending less than two hours daily. Most use the internet for communication (56%), social media (50%), and money management (42%).

Maknickas strongly advises against using public Wi-Fi for financial transactions, recommending mobile networks instead, as leaked financial information can be particularly damaging. Maknickas suggests considering mobile internet options, such as eSIMs or international data packages, for better security. For those who must use public Wi-Fi, he recommends avoiding sensitive activities like banking or online shopping, forgetting the network after use to prevent automatic reconnection, updating software for the latest security patches, and using a VPN to encrypt the connection. Saily provides an affordable and sustainable eSIM service, offering 24/7 customer support, flexible plans, and global coverage. Created by the team behind NordVPN, Saily aims to help users manage mobile and internet connections securely worldwide. For more information, visit Saily’s website or consider subscribing to their service, with the option to get Saily free through a NordVPN deal.