The risks of using public wi-fi – and how to protect yourself against hackers and criminals

PUBLIC wi-fi is available everywhere, and it’s often free to use.

But it can come fraught with danger – read on to find out more, and how you can protect yourself with Surfshark VPN.

Surfshark VPN, from £1.59 per month

We can’t always rely on our mobile data when we’re out and about, especially when we’re abroad and don’t want to rack up roaming fees on holiday.

After all, what’s the first thing you do when you land in a new country? You search for the free airport wi-fi.

Luckily, most cities across the world these days have free public wi-fi hotspots, making it easy to stay connected.

In fact, Europe alone has over 3 million free wi-fi hotspots and Seoul, the capital of South Korea, has a jaw-dropping 23,000 hotspots.

These free-to-use spots might be handy and convenient, but here’s the thing: public wi-fi can be risky.

If you’re not careful, your online activity can be exposed to hackers and cybercrime.

That’s why it’s so important to protect yourself with a VPN when you’re browsing online on a public network.

What are the major risks of using public wi-fi?

Public wi-fi networks are far less secure than private ones.

They’re often unencrypted, meaning the data you send over them isn’t protected, making it easy for hackers to intercept.

If someone dodgy is on the same network as you, they could easily access your online activity: your messages, login details or, yes, even your bank info.

Here are some of the most common ways hackers can target you on public wi-fi:

Man-in-the-middle attacks

The danger: Hackers can intercept what you’re doing online, stealing things like passwords and credit card details.

The solution: A VPN (virtual private network) such as Surfshark will encrypt your data so that even if someone is snooping, they can’t make sense of it.

Unencrypted networks

The danger: Most public wi-fi networks don’t secure your data, so hackers can see what you’re sending, like emails, passwords, or other private stuff.

The solution: A VPN encrypts your data, so even on dodgy networks, your info stays safe.

Malware distribution

The danger: Hackers can use public wi-fi to slip malware onto your device.

This could steal your data, mess up your device, or spy on you.

The solution: A VPN can block dodgy websites and files, stopping malware from getting onto your device.

Some VPNs, like Surfshark, even have built-in anti-malware features.

Rogue hotspots

The danger: Hackers sometimes set up fake wi-fi networks that look legit but are designed to steal your info.

The solution: A VPN encrypts your connection, so even if you connect to a fake hotspot, your data stays protected.

Packet sniffing

The danger: Hackers can use tools to “sniff” out the data you send over the network, like your passwords or private messages.

The solution: A VPN scrambles your data so that even if someone grabs it, they won’t be able to read it.

Session hijacking

The danger: Hackers can steal your session token (basically a key that keeps you logged into your accounts) and pretend to be you.

The solution: A VPN encrypts your sessions, making it much harder for hackers to take over your accounts.

Why choose Surfshark VPN?

If you want to stay safe on public wi-fi, Surfshark VPN is one of the best options out there.

When our writer Alessandro Mascellino tested the service,  in his Surfshark VPN review, described it as ‘excellent for the price… Surfshark is hard to beat’.

It’s packed with features to keep you secure and anonymous, regardless of where you are.

For starters, its CleanWeb feature blocks ads, trackers, malware, and phishing attempts, so you can browse safely.

There’s also a Kill Switch, which automatically disconnects your device from the internet if your VPN connection drops, stopping any data leaks.

For extra protection, you can use Dynamic MultiHop, which routes your internet traffic through two VPN servers at the same time.

If you’re in a place with restrictions, Surfshark’s NoBorders feature helps you bypass censorship and geoblocking so you can use your VPN without any hassle.

For privacy, Surfshark can create an Alternative ID for you, giving you a fake name and email address to use online, keeping your real info private.

Finally, Surfshark’s obfuscated servers make your VPN traffic look like normal internet traffic, letting you bypass restrictions and avoid being tracked by your ISP or anyone else.

All these features mean you can use public wi-fi without worrying about hackers or prying eyes.

Surfshark VPN: pricing

Surfshark offers three different VPN packages, which vary in price and the suite of products each includes.

For the full list of features outlined in the previous section, we recommend you purchase the Surfshark One or One+ packages, which feature the Alert product.

This will let you know if any of your personal data has been leaked online, including your credit card details or ID.

Surfshark One Package

• 2.09 per month for a 24-month plan
• £2.69 per month for a 12-month plan
• £13.69 for a rolling one-month plan

Surfshark One+ Package

• £2.99 per month for a 24-month plan.
• £4.79 per month for a 12-month plan.
• £14.99 for a rolling one-month plan.

Surfshark Starter Package

• £1.69 per month for a 24-month plan.
• £2.59 per month for a 12-month plan.
• £12.29 per month for a rolling one-month plan

Surfshark VPN, from £1.59 per month

For more information about online security, read our explain on digital footprints and how to stay protected with Surshark.

Head to The Sun’s shopping tech hub for more news, explainers and tech deals.