Public Wi-Fi is everywhere—whether you’re at a café, airport, hotel, or on a train. It’s incredibly useful, especially for business travellers and remote workers.

However, connecting to that free Wi-Fi can put your business data at risk of cyberattacks. This is the danger of using unsecured public networks.

When you log onto public Wi-Fi, you may inadvertently invite hackers who are ready to take advantage of these connections. The two main threats to be aware of are Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks and Evil Twin attacks.

Though they may sound like terms from a spy thriller, they are very real and can have severe consequences for your business.

Let’s first look at Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks. Picture yourself in a café sending an email or accessing your bank account. You believe your device is directly linked to the Wi-Fi network, but in reality, a cybercriminal has intercepted that connection.

This “man in the middle” can monitor everything you do online including your passwords, emails, and credit card numbers. The most alarming part? You likely won’t even realize it’s happening.

Criminals can misuse this stolen data in various ways. They might sell it to advertisers, impersonate you in phishing scams to extract sensitive information, or even drain your accounts. For businesses, this could mean critical financial data or customer information falling into the wrong hands.

Now let’s discuss Evil Twin attacks. Imagine you’re at the airport and see two Wi-Fi options: one labelled “Airport Free Wi-Fi” and another called “Airport Wi-Fi Secure.” While they both seem legitimate, one could be a deceptive network created by hackers.

If you connect to the fake network, scammers can track all your online activity like in a MITM attack, but they can go even further. They can capture your cookies—small data files that help websites remember you—and gain access to your login information and personal details.

In some instances, they can even install malware on your device without you needing to click anything. It’s frightening; just connecting to the wrong Wi-Fi could jeopardize your data and your business’s security.

Using public Wi-Fi doesn’t have to be dangerous, but it’s crucial to take precautions. Here are some steps to protect your business:

• Avoid accessing sensitive information over public Wi-Fi, including passwords and financial accounts. If you wouldn’t want someone peeking over your shoulder, wait until you’re on a secure network.

• Use websites that feature HTTPS for encrypted connections. Look for a padlock icon in the address bar or “https://” at the start of the web address—most sites use this now.

• Consider adding reliable browser extensions designed to enhance online security. Many of these can block cookies, ads, and malicious sites, lowering the risk of data exposure.

• Disable auto-join on your devices to prevent them from automatically connecting to any available networks, including potentially harmful ones.

• Be cautious with suspicious pop-ups as scammers often use them to trick users into clicking something harmful. If a pop-up seems off, close it immediately.

• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your business accounts whenever possible. This adds an extra verification step, making it harder for anyone to access your account even if they obtain your password.

• Lastly, keep your software updated. Updates often contain security fixes that guard against new threats. Ignoring them can leave your devices vulnerable.

A bit of caution can significantly improve your online safety for your business. Ask yourself: Is the convenience of free Wi-Fi worth the potential risk to my data?

If you need help safeguarding your business data no matter where you are, let us know