What is a significant risk of using public Wi-Fi for work purposes?

Using public Wi-Fi for work purposes poses significant risks, primarily due to the exposure to man-in-the-middle attacks. In this type of attack, an unauthorized third party intercepts the communication between a user and the server they attempt to communicate with. Since public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured or have weak security measures, attackers can easily position themselves between the user and the network, allowing them to capture sensitive information such as login credentials, personal data, and confidential company information.

These types of attacks can occur without the knowledge of the user, making it particularly dangerous for anyone accessing sensitive work-related information over public Wi-Fi. The lack of encryption and security controls on these networks further exacerbates the risk, enabling attackers to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access to valuable data.

Recognizing such risks emphasizes the importance of employing secure practices, such as using a virtual private network (VPN) when accessing corporate resources over public Wi-Fi. Despite other challenges associated with public Wi-Fi—like slow internet speeds or limited access to resources—none carry the same immediate risk to data security as the potential for man-in-the-middle attacks.