How to stay safe on public Wi-Fi

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View this email in your browser  |  Manage newsletter subscriptions 11.16.21 If you spent the past year-plus within the confines of your living space, you probably became accustomed to the comforts of home Wi-Fi. Secure and easy to connect to, using a private network is a relative breeze. Public Wi-Fi is a different story. You have no idea who set it up or who else is connecting to it, and what it could mean for the safety of your data. Ideally, you don't even have to use it; it's much better to use your smartphone as a hotspot instead. But that's not always practical or even possible. As the world continues to reopen, you may find yourself having to take that leap of faith again. Fortunately, you can limit the potential damage from public Wi-Fi with a few simple steps. Read our guide to staying safe on public Wi-Fi, plus a few other tips and tricks, below. If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more.     Simple Steps to Protect Yourself on Public Wi-Fi Connecting to a public Wi-Fi network can put you at risk. Here's how to minimize the damage. How to Share Your Wi-Fi Password Help your guests connect to your network without typing a thing. How to Run Your Own Secure, Portable PC From a USB Stick Build a super-safe computer you can take anywhere. Simplify and Secure Your Online Logins With a YubiKey These simple, battery-free devices provide an easy way to securely verify that it's really you who's trying to access your online accounts. Get Lost With a Signal-Blocking Smartphone Pouch It's not hard for bad actors to track or hack your phone. But put it inside a Faraday pouch and you can drop off the digital map. GET WIRED A helicopter on Mars. What to expect post-Covid. The next electrifying/terrifying leap in A.I. explained. Get 1 year of unlimited access to WIRED for less than $1 per month. That includes Steven Levy's exclusive newsletter and a free tote! Subscribe now.       When you buy something using the retail links in this email, we earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about how this works.   This e-mail was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, wired@newsletters.wired.com, to your address book.   View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe or manage your newsletter subscriptions