New research out of New York City reveals that less than 10 years after the launch of one of largest and fastest free municipal Wi-Fi networks in the world, more than half of residents are now using that Wi-Fi at least once a month, with nearly one-third using it weekly.
HarrisX surveyed1,528 New Yorkers in 2025 about the service, and found that the amount of people using the Wi-Fi had increased since 2023. A majority, 75 percent of respondents, also reported they would use the free Wi-Fi if it was placed in their neighborhood.
“It’s clear that New Yorkers love the LinkNYC program as much as they need the LinkNYC program,” said LinkNYC CEO Nick Colvin in a press release. “We are seeing strong support for LinkNYC’s services and enhanced digital infrastructure across every community and demographic in our city.”
Other cities are following in New York City’s footsteps, launching innovative ways to provide free access to the Internet in public places.
As part of a Verizon Franchise Renewal Agreement, Philadelphia is installing high-speed broadband and public Wi-Fi, with a goal to have over 200 city locations with free public Wi-Fi by 2026. According to the city website, 78 locations have been activated since October of 2024.
Sarasota, Fla., completed a free “Wi-Fi in the Parks” program last year. South Bend, Ind., offers 140 free Wi-Fi spots across town at places like parks, community centers and commercial areas. Countless municipalities have moved to create free Internet access zones outside of city buildings and libraries.
But the promise of free public Wi-Fi, while critical for bridging the digital divide, encounters a significant hurdle: cybersecurity threats. It’s critical for governments to make sure their residents understand the risks, as bad actors can use these new, large networks of scattered Internet entry points to steal sensitive information.
Okta, a cloud-based identity and access management platform, warns that all hackers need is people who assume there might be readily available free public Wi-Fi nearby. The company reports that hackers can easily pull off an “evil twin attack.” This is when a hacker tricks victims into logging onto a stolen and insecure form of Wi-Fi. Once connected, the hacker gains visibility into everything the victim does online. Tools as simple as off-the-shelf products allow individuals with no computer or programming knowledge to become proficient in setting up these malicious networks.
While it’s common for governments to require users to agree to “terms and conditions” that detail the cybersecurity risks incurred with using public Wi-Fi networks as well as releasing the agency from any liability, that doesn’t mean people are actually reading them.
According to a Pew Research Center study in 2019, while 8 in 10 Americans said they are asked to agree to a privacy policy monthly, more than one-third responded they never read a privacy policy before agreeing to it, and only 9 percent reported that they “always” read over the document.
Leading public Wi-Fi providers like LinkNYC have implemented specific measures aimed at safeguarding users. LinkNYC offers two distinct free Wi-Fi networks designed with differing levels of security. While “LinkNYC Free Wi-Fi” is an open network relying on standard web server-based SSL security (HTTPS) for privacy, the “LinkNYC Private” network goes a step further and secures all wireless communications between devices and the Link kiosk, regardless of whether a website uses SSL security. However, the private network is only available on Apple devices enabled with Hotspot 2.0 technology running on iOS 7 or higher.
The new LinkNYC usage numbers suggest the public will use free Wi-Fi if cities provide it. However, agencies with a commitment to bridging the digital divide must consider factors beyond access such as digital literacy and cybersecurity education to help citizens use that Internet for empowerment, not vulnerability.
