We all use Wi-Fi. Many people use Wi-Fi every day, and many people use it occasionally, but those who have a smartphone definitely use Wi-Fi. Earlier this year, the PM Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme was launched under which people are being given Wi-Fi facilities in public places. There are many things said about public Wi-Fi, but it is very important for you to understand how safe its use is. Let's know...

What are public Wi-Fi networks?: Wi-Fi networks installed in public places are called public Wi-Fi. Usually public Wi-Fi is available at places like railway stations, hotels, coffee shops, bus stands, etc. Along with this, such a WiFi network is also present at airports. Sometimes Wi-Fi in public places is free, and sometimes it is secured through a password. Usually people find public Wi-Fi safe and convenient, but in reality it is not so. 

Disadvantages of using public Wi-Fi: A report in August this year claimed that people of Bangalore lost Rs 845 crore due to cyber scams in the first 6 months of 2024. Debit and credit card frauds accounted for the highest number of incidents recorded, accounting for 1,485 of the total cases. The total scam cases were 9,260, with most victims using Wi-Fi in hotels, lounges, and other public places before making online transactions.

Reasons why public Wi-Fi is unsafe: 
Open network: Public Wi-Fi lacks data encryption, which makes your data easy to access.
Fake hotspot: Hackers create fake Wi-Fi networks to trap users.
Man-in-the-middle attack: hackers can steal data by intercepting between you and the Wi-Fi network.
Malware risk: malware can be installed unknowingly on a public network.