Public Wi-Fi vs your own hotspot: which is safer?
Free Wi-Fi isn't free if someone else is watching.
Open networks are convenient, but anyone nearby can join them, and fake networks with familiar names are easy to set up. A personal hotspot avoids most of these risks.
The risks of open Wi-Fi
On networks without a password, traffic between your device and the router is not encrypted by Wi-Fi, and look-alike networks can trick devices into connecting.
Why a hotspot is safer
Your hotspot is encrypted with WPA2/WPA3, and only people with the password can join. You decide who is on it and when it is on.
Make your hotspot strong
Use a long random password, avoid personal details in the network name, and change the password after sharing it. Hotspot Hub's security check scores all of this.
Check for leaked passwords
Our breach check compares your password against known leaks using k-anonymity: only the first 5 characters of its hash ever leave your phone.
Quick tips
- Prefer your hotspot to open Wi-Fi for banking and work.
- Turn off auto-join for public networks.
- Run the security check after changing your password.
Questions
Is hotel Wi-Fi with a password safe?
Safer than open Wi-Fi, but everyone in the hotel shares that password. Your own hotspot is private.
Should I hide my hotspot's name?
Hiding it doesn't add real security and can make devices broadcast it more often. A strong password matters more.
Does the security check upload my password?
No. Everything is calculated on your device; the breach check sends only a 5-character hash prefix.