Public WiFi — what to watch out for when working remotely
Café WiFi can be convenient, but not every network is what it appears to be. Here's how to work outside the office without putting company data at risk.
How to use networks safely outside the office
An open network is a network without encryption
A WiFi network with no password (or one handed out to everyone at the counter) means data traveling between your device and the internet can, under certain conditions, be intercepted by someone else connected to the same network.
Avoid logging into sensitive accounts on public WiFi
Banking, accounting systems, admin panels — it's best to save these logins for a network you trust, or do them with a VPN turned on. Public WiFi is better suited to browsing than to typing in passwords.
Check the network name before you connect
Fake networks with a name deceptively similar to the real one (e.g. "Cafe_Free_WiFi" instead of "Cafe_Guest") are a known way to intercept traffic. If you're unsure, ask staff for the exact network name.
A phone hotspot is a safer alternative
If your work involves sending something sensitive and you don't have a trusted network, your own phone hotspot (using mobile data) is usually safer than free WiFi at a café or airport.
The role of a VPN
A VPN encrypts traffic between your device and the internet, making it much harder to intercept data even on an untrusted network. If the company provides a VPN for remote work, it's worth turning it on whenever you're outside the office — the setup and usage rules are something to work out with IT.
When it's a job for IT
- You're not sure whether the company provides a VPN for working outside the office
- You logged into a company system from a public network and want to report it
- You regularly work from places like cafés or waiting rooms and need clear guidelines
- You suspect the network you connected to may have been fake
Working outside the office often?
Report the issue — it goes straight into our ticketing system, and our AI assistant assesses priority right away.