Are hotel WiFi networks safer than cafe WiFi?

Not necessarily. Hotel networks are often large, shared, and poorly secured. Always treat hotel WiFi as a public network and use your VPN.

Can I use public WiFi for online banking?

It is strongly discouraged. If you absolutely must, ensure your VPN is active and you are using the official app of your bank rather than a browser. Ideally, wait until you are on a cellular data connection.

Sicheres Surfen im öffentlichen WLAN in Europa

Use a reputable VPN (Virtual Private Network) at all times when connected to public WiFi in Europe to encrypt your data. Disable 'Auto-Join' on your phone settings to prevent your device from connecting to unknown, potentially malicious networks without your consent.

Select a VPN before you leave home. Download and test a paid VPN service like Mullvad, ProtonVPN, or NordVPN while you are still on your home network. Free VPNs often sell your data or lack robust encryption, so invest in a paid subscription for the duration of your trip.
Disable network discovery and file sharing. On your laptop, go to your network settings and ensure 'Network Discovery' and 'File and Printer Sharing' are turned off. This prevents your device from being visible to other users on the same public network.
Verify the network name. Always confirm the exact name of the WiFi network with the staff at the cafe, hotel, or station. Scammers often set up 'Evil Twin' networks with names like 'Free_Cafe_WiFi' to intercept data; confirm spelling and capitalization before clicking connect.
Use HTTPS everywhere. Only visit websites that start with 'https://'. If you see a 'Not Secure' warning in your browser address bar, do not enter any sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). Before you leave, ensure 2FA is active on your email, banking, and social media accounts. Even if a hacker intercepts your password, they won't be able to log in without the code sent to your physical device.

Are hotel WiFi networks safer than cafe WiFi?: Not necessarily. Hotel networks are often large, shared, and poorly secured. Always treat hotel WiFi as a public network and use your VPN.
Can I use public WiFi for online banking?: It is strongly discouraged. If you absolutely must, ensure your VPN is active and you are using the official app of your bank rather than a browser. Ideally, wait until you are on a cellular data connection.