Indian government warns against making this 'big' mistake on public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi

Who doesn't love a little bit of free stuff, especially free Wi-Fi Connections available at several places, like airports, coffee shops, etc. Not only are these Wi-Fi connections not secured properly, but they are also a big trap for scammers and hackers to trap their victims, and they are extremely risky for your private data and financial information stored in your device.

To curb such scams from happening and to strengthen digital safety awareness, CERT-In has issued fresh reminders under its ‘Jaagrookta Diwas’ initiative, cautioning citizens against performing sensitive transactions over public Wi-Fi networks. Highlighting the growing risks of cyber threats, the advisory stresses the importance of practising safe online habits to protect personal data and devices

CERT-In wants you to avoid making transactions over Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi networks, often found in cafes, airports, and public spaces, are convenient but come with hidden dangers. Cybercriminals can easily intercept unprotected connections, making it risky for users to perform tasks like banking, shopping, or entering sensitive personal information while connected to unsecured networks. The government warns that falling into this trap could lead to data theft, financial loss, or identity fraud.

Best practices
As part of the awareness drive, the advisory shares several best practices that users should adopt. Citizens are urged never to click on links or attachments received from unknown sources, to use long and strong passwords for each online account, and to regularly back up important files to external drives. These steps are aimed at creating multiple layers of protection around personal information.

The government emphasises that even seemingly harmless online activities on public Wi-Fi, such as checking emails or logging into social media, could expose users to potential breaches if precautions are not taken. Using a secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) and avoiding autofill options on browsers are also recommended for additional safety.