Is public Wi-Fi in Spain safe? How to stay secure at airports, cafés and coworking spaces

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Updated: October 2026

When you move to Spain, free Wi-Fi seems to be everywhere: at the airport, on the AVE train, in cafés, hotels, coworking spaces and even beach bars. In your first weeks, before your fibre is installed and your Spanish SIM is sorted, you will probably use a lot of it. That is often exactly when you also log in to your bank, send copies of your passport and fill in forms for your NIE. This guide explains what the real risks of public Wi-Fi are and the simple habits that keep your data safe.

What are the risks of public Wi-Fi?

Most public networks are not dangerous in themselves, but you do not control them and you do not know who else is connected. The main risks are:

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• Fake networks (“evil twins”): someone sets up a network with a name like “Airport_Free_WiFi” or the name of the café. If you connect, everything you send passes through their device.
• Open networks without a password: traffic between your device and the router is not encrypted, so others on the same network can try to see what you do.
• Fake login pages: some networks show a page asking you to log in with your email or social media account, or to install an “app” to get online. Never enter passwords or install anything to get Wi-Fi.
• Shared devices: in hotels and coworking spaces, other devices on the same network can see yours if file sharing is switched on.

Most websites, including Spanish banks and government portals, now use encrypted connections (HTTPS, the padlock in the address bar). That protects a lot, but it does not protect you if you connect to a fake network that shows you a fake page, or if an app on your phone sends data without encryption.

Simple habits that keep you safe

• Check the network name with staff. Ask the café, hotel or coworking space for the exact name and password. At airports, use the official network shown on the airport’s signs.
• Use mobile data for banking. Your 4G or 5G connection is encrypted and much harder to intercept. If you have an EU SIM, roaming within the EU normally costs the same as at home, so you can use your data in Spain. See our guide to internet and mobile providers in Spain for a local SIM.
• Look for the padlock and the right address. Type your bank’s address yourself or use its app, instead of following links.
• Switch off automatic connection. Tell your phone and laptop to “forget” public networks after use, and turn off auto-join so they do not connect to a network with the same name later.
• Turn off file sharing and set the network as “public” on your laptop.
• Use two-factor authentication on email, banking and your Spanish digital certificate and Cl@ve. Even if a password is stolen, it is much harder to use.
• Keep your phone and laptop updated. Updates close the security holes that attackers use.

Do you need a VPN on public Wi-Fi?

A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts all traffic between your device and the VPN server, so other people on the same Wi-Fi cannot see what you do, even on an open network. It is a good extra layer if you often work from cafés, coworking spaces, hotels or airports, or if you travel a lot. Using a VPN is legal in Spain. It does not make you anonymous or change the law that applies to you, and it does not replace the habits above.

One option is NordVPN (ad), which encrypts your connection on public Wi-Fi and covers up to 10 devices on one account. You can compare it with other services in our guide to the best VPN for expats in Spain.

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What to do if you think something went wrong

• If you entered bank details on a page you do not trust, call your bank straight away and block the card.
• Change the password of the account you used, from a different, trusted connection.
• Call 017, the free and confidential cybersecurity helpline run by INCIBE (Spain’s National Cybersecurity Institute). It is open every day from 8:00 to 23:00, and you can also write on WhatsApp to 900 116 117.
• If money was taken, file a complaint (denuncia) with the Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil. Read more in our guide to online scams in Spain.

Useful links

• INCIBE 017 – your help in cybersecurity
• Airports and tourist zones in Spain
• Málaga for digital nomads

FAQ: public Wi-Fi in Spain

Disclaimer: This article is general information only. It contains a sponsored link marked (ad); we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.