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A recent look at US search behavior shows where people are most interested in finding free public Wi-Fi. That may seem harmless, but heavy reliance on public hotspots can increase exposure to insecure networks — especially for travelers who want to avoid roaming fees or don’t have enough mobile data.
Below is a breakdown of the findings and why they matter, plus practical ways to stay safer — including using a Roambit eSIM so you don’t need to depend on public Wi-Fi in the first place.
What’s the news?
A new analysis explored where in the US people show the strongest interest in public Wi-Fi. The goal was simple: understand which states and territories are more likely to look for hotspots based on online search demand.
The research reviewed search volumes for queries such as “free Wi-Fi” and “public Wi-Fi” across all 50 states and territories (including Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico). To keep the comparison fair, results were adjusted for population and then normalized on a 0–100 scale.
Why does that matter? Because public Wi-Fi is one of the most common ways people get online when they’re away from home — and it can come with real security risks if the network isn’t properly protected.
The results
Each state and territory was scored from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the lowest per-capita search interest and 100 represents the highest.
Lowest interest (generally a good sign)
Six locations scored below 20. From lowest to highest, they were:
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Puerto Rico
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Wyoming
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Idaho
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Maine
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South Dakota
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California
Lower interest can be good news: fewer people actively seeking public Wi-Fi can mean fewer users routinely connecting to unknown networks — and fewer opportunities for Wi-Fi-related attacks.
Highest interest (potential exposure)
At the other end of the scale, several states scored notably higher — roughly in the 55 to 87 range — including:
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North Carolina
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Maryland
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Nevada
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New York
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Louisiana
And the highest score overall went to Washington, D.C. (100). Because the results were adjusted for population, D.C.’s ranking suggests public Wi-Fi interest there is disproportionately high relative to its size.
The data shows what people search for, not exactly why they search. It doesn’t confirm intent (tourism vs commuting vs limited data plans), but it’s a useful indicator of where public Wi-Fi demand appears strongest.
The risks of public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi is convenient, but the problem is control: you can’t easily verify who set up the network, whether it’s configured securely, or who else is connected.
Here are the biggest risks:
Unsecured or poorly configured networks
Some hotspots don’t encrypt traffic properly or are misconfigured. In those cases, attackers may be able to observe or tamper with certain types of data, especially if users ignore security warnings or connect to insecure sites.
Man-in-the-middle attacks
On compromised networks, attackers can attempt to intercept traffic between your device and the services you use. Even though modern encryption helps a lot, unsafe network setups and user behavior can still create openings.
“Evil twin” hotspots
Sometimes hackers don’t break into a legitimate network — they create their own. An “evil twin” hotspot is a fake network that looks real (for example, it uses a name similar to an airport or café Wi-Fi). If you connect to it, the attacker can monitor your connection and potentially capture sensitive information.
Why travelers are more vulnerable
Tourists and business travelers often connect quickly because they need internet right away and may not have a local data plan. That urgency can make it easier to connect to the wrong network or skip basic safety checks.
How to stay safer on public Wi-Fi
If you must use public Wi-Fi, these steps reduce risk:
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Turn off auto-join and only connect when necessary
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Confirm the official hotspot name with staff or signage
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Avoid banking or sensitive logins on public networks
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Use two-factor authentication on key accounts
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Keep your phone and apps updated
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Disable sharing / device discovery features you don’t need
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Consider using a VPN for an extra layer of protection
A safer alternative: use Roambit mobile data instead of public hotspots
The easiest way to reduce public Wi-Fi risk while traveling is to rely on mobile data, not unknown hotspots.
With a Roambit eSIM, you can get online via cellular networks without hunting for free Wi-Fi in airports, cafés, hotels, or transit hubs. Once installed and activated, you’re connected in minutes — and far less tempted to join random networks just to check messages or maps.
If staying connected matters (and protecting your accounts and data matters too), think of public Wi-Fi as a last resort — and use a dedicated data plan whenever possible.
Need data in USA? Get an eSIM!
