Wireless networks have become ubiquitous in most public places around the world. Most of us have used free Wi-Fi while waiting for a flight, enjoying a meal at a restaurant, or sipping coffee at a café. However, public Wi-Fi access comes with a catch – captive portals. Captive portals are the gateway to accessing free Wi-Fi, and while they may seem like a minor inconvenience, they serve a critical purpose – protecting users from online threats. So, what exactly are captive portals, and why do we need them?

Captive portals are web pages that require users to enter some type of authentication information before allowing access to the internet. In most cases, this authentication information is the acceptance of terms and conditions. Captive portals are used in public Wi-Fi networks to ensure that only legitimate users with permission can access the network. Once a user connects to a public Wi-Fi network, they are redirected to a captive portal page where they must accept the terms and conditions to gain access to the internet.

Captive portals are an essential security measure that ensures that only authorized users can access a public Wi-Fi network. Without a captive portal, anyone within range of the network could connect and possibly engage in malicious activity such as hacking, data theft, and malware. Captive portals protect users by allowing network administrators to monitor and regulate network usage, block suspicious activity and restrict access to specified websites. Public Wi-Fi networks are particularly vulnerable to attacks because they are easier to access and less protected compared to private networks.

Captive portals are designed to be user-friendly and simple to use. Once a user connects to a public Wi-Fi network, they are redirected to a captive portal page. This page may contain the service provider’s terms and conditions, payment options, login options via social media profiles or email, or even a survey. Users must accept the terms and conditions to gain access to the internet. Once accepted, a session is created, and users can access the internet. The captive portal session usually lasts for a set amount of time, after which users may need to reconnect to the Wi-Fi network and go through the portal process again.

While captive portals serve an essential security purpose, they can also pose some problems for users. Large public Wi-Fi networks may have thousands of users connected simultaneously, leading to slow loading times and timeouts. Users may find the process of going through the captive portal every time they want to access the internet time-consuming and frustrating. To address these issues, Wi-Fi service providers are developing innovative ways to simplify the captive portal process, such as using automatic logins or enabling one-time acceptance of terms and conditions only.