Using a public Wi-Fi network is no longer as dangerous as it was a decade ago, as the mass adoption of the HTTPS protocol has made snooping on network communications more difficult.
This is the last message of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which explains that the tips that existed to avoid using some public Wi-Fi and sticking to networks with a password no longer apply these days.
"This advice came from the Internet, when most communications were not encrypted. At that time, if someone could look at your network communications, they could read your email. They could also steal your passwords or login cookies to emulate you on your favorite websites. ”
But the rapid adoption of HTTPS has solved this shortcoming of public Wi-Fi networks, according to the EFF. 92% of websites in the United States currently use the HTTPS protocol, its use is constantly increasing in all other countries.
However, the EFF Foundation explains that HTTPS doesn't necessarily protect all of your data, as some information is still exposed when you're connected to a public Wi-Fi and there's someone malicious user that is trying to spy on you.
Information such as the domain name you open in your browser, the size of files you download or upload are available to someone monitoring your communications, but on the other hand, login names, passwords and messages are fully protected.
“They could see that metadata, just like the service provider could see it Internet when you browse your home. If it's not a risk to you, then you shouldn't worry about using public Wi-Fi,” the EFF states.
