Use free Wi-Fi away from home, safely

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Libraries, cafes and your internet provider's hotspots can get you online free. Here's how to avoid fake hotspots and keep banking safe.

⏱ About 5 minutes · 5 steps · ▶ 2 videos
What you'll need
  • A phone, tablet or laptop

Official links

These open the real sites in a new tab. Checked October 2026.

Who qualifies

Anyone at a library, café or other place with public Wi-Fi. Xfinity hotspots are for Xfinity internet customers (including Internet Essentials).

What you get

Free internet for browsing, maps, video and email.

After the free part

Free. Your phone's hotspot uses your mobile data allowance.

Which Wi-Fi network is real?: Name staff gave you / Sign-in page asks only to agree / Site shows https and a lock; Look-alike name, like Library_WiFi2 / Asks for a card for "free" Wi-Fi / Pop-up asks you to install an app

  1. Find trusted free Wi-Fi

    Public libraries usually have free Wi-Fi. Some home internet providers, such as Xfinity, include Wi-Fi hotspots for their customers; check your provider's site or app.

  2. Pick the right network

    Ask staff for the exact network name. Fake hotspots often use a name that looks almost right, like "Library_Free_WiFi2". Don't join one just because it's open.

  3. Check for the lock

    Most websites now encrypt your connection. Before typing anything private, check that the web address starts with https. Many browsers no longer show a lock: Safari shows a Not Secure warning only when a site isn't safe, and Chrome shows a small settings icon instead (tap it to see Connection is secure). If you see Not Secure, don't type passwords or card numbers.

    ⚠️ Careful: If a Wi-Fi sign-in page asks for your card or bank details for "free" Wi-Fi, close it. Real free programs never ask for your card or bank details to give you something free, never pressure you with a countdown, and never come from a random text, pop-up or caller. Go to the official website yourself instead of tapping a link.

  4. Use your phone's hotspot for banking

    For banking or shopping, it's safer to use your phone's mobile data, or turn on your phone's hotspot and connect your laptop to it.

    📱 iPhone / iPad: Settings > Personal Hotspot > Allow Others to Join.

    🤖 Android: Settings > Network & internet > Hotspot & tethering (names vary).

  5. Clean up afterward

    Turn off auto-join for public networks, keep your devices updated, and use two-step verification on important accounts.

Compare at a glance

What you're doingPublic Wi-FiPhone data or hotspot
News, maps, videos✅ Fine✅ Fine
Email (https)✅ Usually fine✅ Fine
Banking, shopping⚠️ Better not✅ Safer
Typing a card number❌ Avoid✅ Safer
⚠️ Look-alike network names

The real address is wifi.xfinity.com. Type it yourself or use the buttons above. Fake sites use names like Library_Free_WiFi2, Free_Airport_WiFi_Login (examples only, do not visit). A real free program never asks for your card or bank details to “unlock” it.

We don't recommend free VPN apps: many are unsafe or sell your data. For private things, use your phone's data instead.

Why we trust this: Based on the FTC's public Wi-Fi guidance and Apple's and Google's own hotspot help pages, checked October 2026.

🎉 All done! Free Wi-Fi is fine for browsing and email. Save the private stuff for mobile data or your phone's hotspot.

Related game: Safe or Risky?. Related explainer: Wi-Fi vs. internet: what's the difference? .

Official help pages

Steps checked against these pages in October 2026. If a button looks different, look for a similar label.