back

Why Cyber Criminals Love Coffee Shops

internet cafe

In Western Mass, you can’t drive more than a mile without spotting a Dunkin’. Around here, we don’t even call it Dunkin’ Donuts. It’s just Dunks. Whether it’s Easthampton, Westfield, or Springfield, people start their day with a large iced, even in February. But while you’re sipping coffee and scrolling emails, there’s someone else who loves coffee shops even more than you do: cyber criminals.

 

Why Hackers Love Dunks Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is like free candy for hackers. Most coffee shop networks, including your friendly neighborhood Dunks, are wide open with no passwords, no encryption, and no protection. That makes it easy for cybercriminals to:

  • Snoop on your activity (yes, they can see the sites you visit and sometimes the data you send)

  • Launch man-in-the-middle attacks (intercepting emails, logins, or even banking info)

  • Plant malware on devices connected to the same network

Think about it. While you’re catching up on work, someone in the corner with a hoodie and too much caffeine might be catching up on you.

 

Real Story: The Western Mass Dunks Example

One of our local clients had an employee who thought he’d save time by jumping on Dunks Wi-Fi before heading into the office. He logged into the company’s email portal, checked a few files, and went on with his day.

The next week, his account was compromised. The login credentials were intercepted, and suddenly a hacker was sending phishing emails to the entire company.

Luckily, Hogan Technology’s monitoring tools flagged the unusual activity right away, and we shut it down before serious damage was done. But it was a lesson learned: that $3.29 coffee came with a side of risk.

 

How to Stay Safe at Your Favorite Dunks

We’d never tell anyone in Western Mass to skip Dunks. That would be sacrilege. But if you’re checking work emails or handling sensitive info while you wait for your breakfast sandwich, follow these steps:

  1. Use a VPN – A Virtual Private Network encrypts your traffic so even if hackers are listening, all they see is gibberish

  2. Turn off auto-connect – Make sure your devices don’t automatically connect to public Wi-Fi

  3. Use your phone hotspot – Safer and often faster than free Wi-Fi

  4. Enable MFA – Even if hackers steal your password, multi-factor authentication keeps them locked out

  5. Assume public Wi-Fi is hostile – Don’t log into financial accounts, HR portals, or other sensitive systems while sipping your latte

At Hogan Technology, we know Western Mass. We know Dunks. And we know cyber criminals are always looking for the easiest way in. Don’t let your daily coffee run put your business at risk.

If your team works remotely or often uses public Wi-Fi, let’s talk about secure mobile work solutions. Contact Hogan Technology today so the only thing you have to worry about at Dunks is whether to get glazed or chocolate frosted