Why do we say you shouldn't use public WiFi?

Why do we say you shouldn't use public WiFi? Why do we say that people shouldn't use public WiFi? Well, the answer has changed over the years. Originally, one of the biggest reasons was because websites used HTTP instead of HTTPS. And for those who don't know what that means, that the connection between your device and the website is unencrypted. Now, back then a lot of websites did not have that padlock. So let's say if you and I were on the same public WiFi, it was much easier for someone to intercept information that is being sent over the network. Think of things like usernames, passwords, or anything else that was not encrypted. Now, this particular problem has improved as of today because most websites use HTTPS by default. However, I still recommend that people do not use public WiFi. Because the risk is not really the WiFi itself, it's whether you actually connected to the right network. So, for example, at a coffee shop, and their network is called Coffee Shop WiFi. So an attacker would create a fake WiFi that looks like the real thing. And then you as the user go ahead, connect to it, thinking it's legit, but it's actually being controlled by an attacker. Now, they can use this to monitor your traffic or redirect you to malicious websites. And this is why it's called an evil twin because it looks like the real thing, but it's not. So, if you really must use public WiFi, here's what I recommend. Number one, please use a VPN. Number two, for sensitive things like banking, please use your own personal hotspot or mobile data. Number three, make sure that you're connected to a legit network. And if a WiFi page suddenly asks you for your Google account, your Apple account, or like a social media password, that is a huge red flag. Happpy learning!