Profeco warns of risks in public WiFi, offers safety guide

Mexican consumer protection agency Profeco has issued a warning about the risks of using public WiFi networks, releasing a "traffic light" system to help users identify safe connections. The guidance, published in the July 2026 edition of the Revista del Consumidor, aims to protect personal and banking data during summer travel.

The semáforo system

Profeco’s semáforo classifies WiFi networks into three risk levels:

• Green: Trusted networks requiring a password, offered by establishments or institutions. Suitable for mapping, messaging, and basic browsing Source: mileniomx.
• Yellow: Networks used with caution, often without a password and with generic names like "wifi gratis 123" Source: heraldomx.
• Red: Suspicious or duplicate networks mimicking official names (e.g., "Café_Free" vs. "Café_Oficial"), which may redirect to fraudulent sites and request sensitive data Source: mileniomx.

Recommendations

To stay safe, Profeco advises:

• Do not save passwords in the browser when using public WiFi Source: heraldomx.
• Always log out of accounts after use.
• Avoid online purchases or entering banking information Source: mileniomx.
• Verify the website's security padlock in the address bar Source: heraldomx.

The agency emphasized that open networks allow data interception and fraudulent redirection, urging users to confirm the network truly belongs to the establishment offering it Source: mileniomx.