RedWave Team : 12 November 2025 14:37
Nowadays, the proliferation of portable, wearable, and other smart devices has made data exchange, access to resources, and web browsing indispensable.
This in-depth look at Wi-Fi focuses on a widely used category of networks. Hotels, airports, conference rooms, public and private companies, hospitals, and so on offer the ability to stay connected within their facilities through so-called open networks (often referred to as guest networks).
Open WiFi networks, while useful for their convenience and accessibility, pose one of the most significant threats to cybersecurity. Their lack of protection makes them fertile ground for illicit activity and cybercriminals, who exploit these networks to intercept sensitive data and orchestrate complex attacks. This article will be divided into several parts.
This will allow us to explore in depth how unsecured WiFi networks facilitate cybercrime. We’ll analyze some of the most common techniques used by hackers and also discuss countermeasures to protect yourself.
Let’s start with some statistics and why we think this topic shouldn’t be underestimated.
Public WiFi networks have become a necessity, as reported in Broadband Search’s Broadband Search article
( Vital Statistics on Public WiFi: Usage, Safety & Trends – BroadbandSearch – updated April 18, 2024) :
In today’s hyper-connected world, public WiFi has emerged as more than just a convenience: it has become a necessity .
The article reports among other things that
Italy offers 72,680 free WiFi hotspots. A significant number of these are sponsored by local municipalities in various cities across the country. Additionally, most entertainment venues and accommodations offer free internet access to their guests. The leading cities in WiFi connectivity are Rome with 4,842 hotspots, Milan with 4,626, and Naples following closely behind with 4,475.
At the same time, Forbes reports a survey of 2,000 Americans
The survey shows that public Wi-Fi usage remains high. 56% of respondents connect to public Wi-Fi networks without a password, despite the risks.
Although, most of the interviewees (32%) declare to use it:
As a last resort when there is no cellular connection
The survey also confirms the high level of risk associated with open WiFi networks. 43% of respondents confirmed having had their online security compromised while using these networks. Below is a list of the most common locations where respondents reported such compromises:
This Forbes survey clearly shows that:
- Most people (35%) access public Wi-Fi three or four times a month.
- 23% of people use public Wi-Fi to reduce cellular data usage.
- 20% use public Wi-Fi to make financial transactions.
- The places where people most commonly use public Wi-Fi are restaurants and hotels.
- Four in ten people have had their data compromised while using public Wi-Fi.
- Most people have had their personal data compromised via public Wi-Fi networks in cafes, airports, or hotels.
Although this research is based on an American audience, we at RedWave Team believe it reflects very well what is happening in our country as well.
Several analyses place cybersecurity at the top of the list of key risks for 2025.
Like this analysis by the ECIIA (an international non-profit organization based in Brussels) which analyzes data collected by 985 EWCs ( European Works Councils – these are committees, established in every company or group of companies of Community size, are made up of employees of the same company and have the purpose of “informing and consulting workers” on the economic performance of the company and on the main transnational decisions that have an influence on employment relationships ) in 20 European countries:
https://www.eciia.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Risk-in-Focus-2025-FINAL.pdf
As can be highlighted from the report in question:
Our digital security is a priority and requires attention: we must absolutely avoid the use of open WiFi networks
These networks do not require authentication to connect, meaning anyone within range can access the network. This feature, while convenient from a user experience perspective, introduces several critical issues:
Avoiding open WiFi networks is a fundamental measure to protect our digital security and reduce the risk of exposure to these threats.
RedWave Team