It can be. Free WiFi at coffee shops and airports comes with real risks.
Common attacks:
- Evil twin — Fake network with real-looking name
- Man-in-the-middle — Intercepting your traffic
- Packet sniffing — Capturing unencrypted data
What’s at risk:
- Login credentials
- Financial info
- Personal data
How to stay safe:
- Use a VPN (encrypts everything)
- Verify network names with staff
- Avoid banking without VPN
- Use phone hotspot instead
- Forget the network when done
See: VPN recommendations