Millions of us use public Wi-Fi to save money on mobile data, but Google warns that this risky habit could compromise our safety. 

In a new document, the tech giant stresses that smartphone users should 'avoid using public Wi-Fi whenever possible'. 

It explains that these networks can be 'unencrypted and easily exploited by attackers', which could mean the data you transmit over them is unsafe. 

If you enter banking information or login credentials when connected to public Wi-Fi, you could be handing them over to criminals. 

Cyber experts largely agree with the company's advice, especially when accessing accessing sensitive information online. 

Dr Manny Niri, senior cyber security lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, also agreed that Google's new warning 'makes sense'.

'Public Wi-Fi can be risky because many of these networks aren't encrypted,' Dr Niri told the Daily Mail. 

'This means that hackers on the same network could attempt to intercept data or even set up fake Wi-Fi hotspots to deceive users.

Goggle issued the warning in its new 10-page 'Behind the Screen' advisory document for October 2025, which offers tips to avoid 'text-based scams'. 

It tells readers to 'keep an eye on your bank accounts and credit report regularly' as they may be the first signs you've been compromised by public Wi-Fi. 

The tech giant adds: 'Always install the latest OS updates and security patches from your device manufacturer.' 

Oliver Buxton, cyber expert at security firm Norton, agrees that free public Wi-Fi can leave you vulnerable to online threats and cyberattacks.

'Many public Wi-Fi hotspots are unencrypted networks that transmit data in plain text, making it vulnerable to cybercriminals with the right tools,' he said. 

'Hackers on the same network can intercept your online activities, including banking information, login credentials, and personal messages.'

Another danger is 'malicious hotspots' in public places that trick users into connecting by mimicking legitimate Wi-Fi names. 

'For instance, if you were staying at the Goodnight Inn and wanted to connect to the hotel's Wi-Fi, you might mistakenly select 'GoodNight Inn' (with a capital N) instead of the correct network,' Buxton said. 

'By doing so, you risk connecting to an "evil twin" network set up by cybercriminals to access your internet traffic.' 

Jake Moore, tech expert and security advisor at ESET, agreed that people 'should at least double check they are on the genuine public network and not a fraudulent copycat network before going online'. 

Public Wi-Fi is 'not as much of a threat as it used to be', but it's not completely zero-risk', he added. 

'The blanket of 'avoid public Wi-Fi altogether' is often overblown advice,' Moore told the Daily Mail.

'However, to be careful if you are privacy and security aware, I would still advise people disable auto-connect which prevents surprise joins to fake networks automatically. 

'Some incidents in the past have stem from users auto-joining rogue Wi-Fi networks.'  

According to Dr Niri, when it comes to Wi-Fi the level of risk 'depends on what you're doing and how your phone or laptop is set up'. 

'Using a VPN, visiting only secure (https) websites, or switching to mobile data is much safer than using open Wi-Fi,' he said. 'If you must use public Wi-Fi, it's best to avoid logging into important accounts, such as banking or email, and always keep your software up to date.' 

Meanwhile, Professor James Davenport, an IT expert from the University of Bath, said he does use public Wi-Fi, but is 'skeptical when using it'. 

'I don't do high-value work, such as internet banking, on them,' Professor Davenport told the Daily Mail.

But Dr Abel Yeboah-Ofori, associate professor in cybersecurity at University of West London, simply said 'Google is right'. 

'Using public Wi-fi is one of the most dangerous vulnerable spots cyber criminals can exploit,' he told the Daily Mail. 

Elsewhere in the report, Google admits phones and their networks have changed our lives by making it easier to contact loved ones, manage busy schedules and 'navigate the world around us'. 

But that same convenience has created a 'sophisticated, global enterprise' for criminals designed to 'inflict devastating financial losses and emotional distress on unsuspecting victims'.

In the past year alone, scams have drained more than $400 billion (£304 billion) from consumers worldwide, according to the document. 

A survey commissioned by Google found 94 per cent of people received a scam text message, which usually feature an unsolicited request for personal information or payment. 

Other telltale signs of scam messages include a sense of urgency in the language, poor grammar or spelling, and usual-looking links. 

Google says: 'Most scams rely on one of two tactics: the promise of a reward ('You've won a prize!') or the threat of a consequence ('Your driver's license will be suspended'). 

'To create urgency, these are almost always followed by a strict deadline, pressuring you into acting before you have time to think clearly.'