Using public Wi-Fi more safely

Wi-Fi in cafés, hotels, airports and other public places can be convenient, but an unfamiliar network may expose you to additional risks.

Open or fake networks can increase the risk of intercepted communications or redirects to suspicious websites. Before connecting, check the exact network name with staff. A password alone does not prove that a network is trustworthy.

A virtual private network (VPN) can encrypt traffic between your device and the VPN service, but it does not automatically make an unknown network safe. For financial transactions and online banking, use mobile data or wait until you have a trusted connection.

Check the network before connecting, and choose a trusted connection before paying.