The short answer is, well, Wi-Fi is just a means to connect portable devices over-the-air instead of plugging into ethernet. The "wireless" aspect doesn't necessarily change much other than the medium used.
The longer answer is a big chain of "it depends". I'd start with - who manages the network, the router and (if managed Wi-Fi) the wireless controller?
E.g. do you let your ISP manage your kit/config/DNS?
Researchers at Germany's KIT demonstrate Wi-Fi routers can identify and track people through walls using radio waves alone, turning home networks into surveillance devices.
The wifi router may well be compromised by bad actors, any public wifi is an unknown and your internet provider is as required by law.
This is why you should always be using end to end encryption, then it doesn't matter so much if the middle men are compromised whether by bad actors or by government.
That's how I try and answer those kind of questiosn for the general public anyway: Yes the risk exists, actionable response you can realistically take.
and maybe a bit of explaining https
This entry was edited (Saturday, August 29, 2026, 10:50 AM)
If you use a WiFi router from the broadband provider, it is most likely spying on you. If you install your own router, especially some which are security enforced, you should be fine.
Peter Lord
in reply to Jim Killock • •Jim Killock likes this.
Mattiz6276
in reply to Jim Killock • • •Paul L
in reply to Jim Killock • • •The "my" part will require expansion.
The short answer is, well, Wi-Fi is just a means to connect portable devices over-the-air instead of plugging into ethernet. The "wireless" aspect doesn't necessarily change much other than the medium used.
The longer answer is a big chain of "it depends".
I'd start with - who manages the network, the router and (if managed Wi-Fi) the wireless controller?
E.g. do you let your ISP manage your kit/config/DNS?
Who's in a position to collect data?
Jason Antoniewicz
in reply to Jim Killock • • •‘Your Wi-Fi router just became a surveillance camera—KIT researchers show how in May 2026’
cambridgeanalytica.org/surveil…
Your Wi-Fi router just became a surveillance camera—KIT researchers show how in May 2026
Rivo Raphaël Chreçant (CA Privacy Watch)The Penguin of Evil
in reply to Jim Killock • • •The wifi router may well be compromised by bad actors, any public wifi is an unknown and your internet provider is as required by law.
This is why you should always be using end to end encryption, then it doesn't matter so much if the middle men are compromised whether by bad actors or by government.
That's how I try and answer those kind of questiosn for the general public anyway: Yes the risk exists, actionable response you can realistically take.
and maybe a bit of explaining https
⁂ Fish Id Wardrobe
in reply to Jim Killock • • •staringatclouds
in reply to Jim Killock • • •Jon Levin
in reply to Jim Killock • • •Mario
in reply to Jim Killock • • •