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Public Wi-Fi & Privacy Basics

Learn when public Wi-Fi is useful, when it is risky, and how to protect yourself when you use it.

Printable Safety habit Beginner

Public Wi-Fi is convenient, but it is not the best place to do banking, government logins, or anything private.

What you will do in this guide

  • Choose a safer public network.
  • Avoid sensitive tasks on open Wi-Fi.
  • Check the website address and sign out when finished.

Using public Wi-Fi more safely

Many public places offer Wi-Fi, including stations, libraries, cafes, airports, and food courts. It is helpful, but you still need to be careful.

Step 1: Choose the official network

  1. Look for the official network name shown by the venue.
  2. Be careful with lookalike names that may be fake.
  3. If you are unsure, ask staff before connecting.

Step 2: Avoid sensitive tasks

  1. Do not log in to banking, government, or shopping accounts if you can avoid it.
  2. Do not enter card details on public Wi-Fi unless you really trust the connection.
  3. Use mobile data instead for anything private when possible.

Step 3: Check the website address

  1. Look for the padlock in the browser address bar.
  2. Read the website address carefully.
  3. For government websites, check for .the official government domain in your country.

Step 4: Sign out when finished

  1. Click Log out or Sign out.
  2. Close the tab after signing out.
  3. Forget the network later if you no longer need it.
Try it yourself - practise safer Wi-Fi habits Click to expand

Follow along and tick each step as you go. You can use a real device right now!

✨ Tip: Ticking these boxes only works on your screen — nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

You finished this guide

What do you want to do next?

Keep layering your safety habits. Strong passwords protect your accounts, and scam awareness protects you before you log in.

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