There are many serious security dangers of public wifi, and we have created a detailed guide to the security dangers of public wifi. In short, there is no such thing as truly safe wifi. While you may not be risking your life by connecting to a public wifi network, you are risking the security of your online accounts and other personal information.
In addition to the risks with using unsecured public wifi networks, there are additional security risks that only apply to VPN users.
The VPN Security Dangers You Need To Be Aware Of
If you are not familiar with VPN security risks, you must read up on the VPN kill switch. This is one of the most important features of a VPN service and will protect your privacy from being exposed if the VPN connection drops prematurely.
Another common threat to avoid when using a VPN is DNS leaks. This can happen if the VPN fails to prevent DNS requests from going directly to your ISP instead of through the VPN tunnel. This can cause you to be exposed in ways similar to unprotected public wifi users. Many other possible threats could affect your privacy when using a VPN, so you must read up on this threat as well as others that may be relevant to your situation or location.
Here is a list of the security dangers of using public wifi:
1. Your identity can be stolen.
This is the obvious threat that most people think about when they connect to a public wifi network. While it is true that you are broadcasting the fact that you are using a computer, which could be traced back to you, there is no way for anyone to know what you are doing specifically.
This can be dangerous for several reasons. If you are doing something illegal on a public wifi network, such as downloading or sharing pirated media, someone will likely witness this and report your activity. This may result in your arrest and prosecution.
2. Your email account can be hacked.
While this happens far less frequently than identity theft, it is still a possibility if you are using public wifi without a VPN service. Having someone hack your email account can lead to a lot of different problems. They could take over your email address and start sending out spam, or they could use your emails to hack into other accounts that you have connected to your email.
This threat is real, and hackers can gain access to email even when you are using a VPN. The best way to prevent this from happening is by using the VPN kill switch feature, which will cut off all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops.
Your payment information can be stolen.
Another very scary threat that you should worry about when using public wifi is someone hacking into your online accounts and stealing your payment information. This could happen if you use an unsecured public wifi network at a coffee shop or restaurant, or if you connect to public wifi on a plane or train.
