Cybersecurity In Public

Public places can be cybersecurity risks because public Wi-Fi, USB ports, etc. can spell trouble.

Public Wi-Fi

Hey... did you know San Francisco provides free Wi-Fi along Market Street and around select Rec and Park locations?

While that's cool, wi-fi like this at other public locations may be a risk.

If You Don't Want Someone To See It...

If you normally don't someone to see your bank account or private information — don't access it on public wi-fi!

Consider using a VPN or switching to a mobile hotspot, e.g. your phone. More often than not, your cellular data will be safer than public wi-fi.

Can I Charge At A Public USB Port?

We all know the pain of having your mobile device run out of battery.

However, it's probably a bad idea to charge your phone or mobile device using a public USB port. This is because using a USB port is like hooking up your device to a computer.

In this case, it is a computer anyone can access.

A comparison of public usb outlets and power outlets with a suggestion to only use the power outlet.

Charging Your Devices Safely

If you need to charge your device, consider:

  • connecting your device to your own laptop
  • bringing a battery pack
  • carrying a charger you can plug into a power outlet
Last updated November 16, 2023