Advice Request Restaurant Free Wifi - Is it safe?

[ng4ever]

Is it safe to use Restaurant Free Wifi ?

Also why do they lock down the Guest network sense the previous time I visited ?

 

[Andrew999]

Well, if you do I highly recommend using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) I recommend Windscribe and ProtonVPN if you want free options. Also try not to do Banking or anything where you are entering personal information.

 

[ng4ever]

Well, if you do I highly recommend using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) I recommend Windscribe and ProtonVPN if you want free options. Also try not to do Banking or anything where you are entering personal information.

Thanks!

 

[Ink]

Realistically nothing is safe.

• Avoid insecure & open Wi-Fi access points
  
• Take caution with protected public Wi-Fi access points and possible "Login pages"
  
• Do not sensitive web activities unless you're confident the connection is secured
  
• Use mobile data (4G/LTE)**
• Use only trusted VPN services

You have to pay for privacy, so be vigilant around most "free VPN apps".

References:

1. https://www.kaspersky.co.uk/resource-center/preemptive-safety/public-wifi
2. Public Wi-Fi is not as safe as you think

**Manage your mobile data usage with My Data Manager on Android and iOS.

 

[HarborFront]

Is it safe to use Restaurant Free Wifi ?

Also why do they lock down the Guest network sense the previous time I visited ?

You must take it that surfing at public WiFi is NEVER safe. The reason being establishments usually do not provide encryption for the free WiFi service to avoid slowing down the surfing speed. And some of these can be honeypots to trap the users.

Can you still surf at that establishment? If yes, then it's fine otherwise you can ask the owner why?

Here are some safety points when surfing at public Wifi

1) Make sure the OS/3rd-party software auto-update feature is turned off. Only perform manual update and this include
a) OS auto-update
b) no auto syncing to cloud
c) manual definition update of AV software
d) manual update of desktop email client or use web-based emails
e) others

2) Use a portable device like InvizBox (a portable VPN router) which comes with a paid VPN service

3) Connect the Invizbox to the public WiFi first

4) After the connection is successful, connect it to your laptop. This is superior than just using a paid VPN service for connection with the latter can take seconds to some minutes. This method isolates the user's laptop from the public WiFi before a connection is being made thus minimizing MITM attacks. However, do NOT expect to play online games, carry out heavy downloading etc with such portable VPN router

5) If possible, tether the InvizBox to your LTE 4G portable MiFi hotspot router and surf using LTE 4G. This allows you to surf anywhere rather than at fixed hotspots whereby the chances of subjecting to MITM is greater. Just make sure your mobile data plan allows you to do it

6) Manual update all software

7) Lastly, run Shadow Defender.....strongly recommended

Happy and safe surfing