Manila: Global cybersecurity and digital privacy firm Kaspersky on Tuesday backed the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in urging the public to take extra steps to protect themselves when using public wireless network (Wi-Fi) connections.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DICT advised the public against accessing their banking apps or mobile applications when connected to public Wi-Fi. They recommended verifying if the Wi-Fi is legitimate, turning off auto-connect on mobile phones, and logging out of accounts after use.

"The DICT's warning echoes exactly what we have been seeing in our own threat research. The moment you connect to an unsecured network, you may be exposing your passwords, banking details, and personal messages to anyone monitoring that connection," Choon Hong Chee, head of Consumer Channel for Asia-Pacific at Kaspersky, said in a statement.

He emphasized, "Free Wi-Fi feels convenient, but it often comes at a hidden cost. Cybercriminals know that public networks require no authentication, making it easy for them to intercept data without users ever realizing it."

In addition to the DICT's advice, Kaspersky recommends enabling a firewall on devices and using strong passwords for anyone wishing to connect to a public Wi-Fi. They further emphasized the importance of general digital hygiene rules, such as avoiding public USB chargers, not sending sensitive information over unsecured connections, turning off Bluetooth and near field communication (NFC) in crowded places, and connecting to public Wi-Fi only when absolutely necessary.