The network name to pick is LinkNYC Free Wi-Fi. That is the wording in LinkNYC's public connection instructions. Open your device's Wi-Fi settings and choose that name from the available networks when you are near a Link. Do not substitute a similar-looking name just because it includes the word LinkNYC.
Match the public name exactly
LinkNYC's instructions say to select Wi-Fi in device settings, then choose “LinkNYC Free Wi-Fi” from the list. The name includes Free and a hyphen between Wi and Fi. The page has a heading with slightly different spacing, but its actual selection instruction repeatedly uses LinkNYC Free Wi-Fi.
The connection instructions also say to enter an email address and tap Connect. LinkNYC says you only need to complete its connection steps once and that a previously connected device will reconnect when near a Link. If the expected network is absent, the supplied material does not establish a substitute network name.
Do not confuse public with private
LinkNYC describes LinkNYC Free Wi-Fi as an open network that relies on web server-based SSL security for privacy, like other public Wi-Fi services. Its LinkNYC Private network goes further by securing wireless communications between your device and the Link regardless of whether a website uses SSL.
Those names describe different connection choices, not two spellings for the same network. LinkNYC says its Private Wi-Fi requires installing a Link configuration profile on the device. If your aim is simply to follow the site's public-network instructions, the name specified for selection is LinkNYC Free Wi-Fi.
Use sensible checks once connected
The FTC says a lock symbol or https in a website address bar indicates an encrypted connection, including in a mobile browser. That check is useful on public Wi-Fi, but it is not proof that the website itself is trustworthy. Scammers can create encrypted fake sites that remain unsafe.
For online accounts, the FTC recommends strong passwords and two-factor authentication when available. It also recommends keeping a phone's operating system updated. Those habits apply regardless of whether you are using public Wi-Fi or another connection; they do not turn an unfamiliar network name into an official one.
In short, read the network list carefully, select the precise public name LinkNYC Free Wi-Fi, and follow LinkNYC's stated connection prompts. Treat LinkNYC Private as a separate option with its own profile requirement. If a screen or network name differs from the instructions, check the current official directions rather than guessing your way through.
