How to Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi?

Many people rely on public wi-fi networks to get their work done while they are on the move. The rise of hybrid working means that more and more individuals work in coffee shops, airports, and other places where they have to share a wi-fi connection with other people. As liberating as this way of working can be, it does carry risks. The biggest of these is the safety and security of the data that is being transmitted to and from the laptop over another device that is being used. Many public wi-fi networks do not offer high levels of encryption and security. As a result, the user is responsible for providing this level of protection for themselves.

Thankfully, there is a solution that makes this easy to do. The answer is to use a virtual private network, better known as a VPN. A VPN works by creating a private connection between your system and a web server. Any data that is sent through that connection is strongly encrypted and well protected. Instead of seeing your computer’s IP address, any website that you connect to sees the VPN server that you are using. This prevents you from leaving footprints all over the internet, which can later be pieced together to create a map of your browsing history. This information is also used by advertisers and other trackers to build up a profile of you.

How to Use a VPN to Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi

Many VPN operators make it very simple to set up their services on your system and start protecting yourself when using public wi-fi. Getting started is actually as simple as downloading the app offered by the service you have chosen. Once you have done this, simply sign in using the username and password that you selected when you signed up for the service. It is then most likely that you will be asked which server you want to connect to. Unless you want to make it look as though you are located in a different country in order to access a piece of content that would usually be blocked, it’s typically best to select the server which is located closest to you. Some VPN apps have a feature that will help you to make this selection automatically, making it easier to connect to the nearest and fastest VPN server. Doing this means that you will enjoy the fastest possible browsing speeds, no matter where you are.

Things to Consider When Choosing a VPN

There are many VPN operators out there, and choosing the one that will do the best job of keeping your connection safe and secure when you are using a public wi-fi network can be a tricky task. Here are a few things to look for when you are selecting one.

Server Locations

If you want to be sure of always benefitting from the fastest possible speeds when you browse, make sure that the VPN provider you choose has servers that are located close to you. As a result, it will take less time for data to travel to and from the server. If possible, use the free trial or money-back guarantee offered by the VPN company to test out the speed of the connection and make sure that you can browse the internet quickly and effectively.

Special Offers and Deals

The VPN market is a very competitive place, and companies that operate in the space constantly compete to offer better offers in order to win new customers. As a general rule, if you pay for a significant period of service in advance, you will be able to save a large amount of money; this can be as much as 80% or more in some cases.

Most of these offers also come with a money-back guarantee, meaning that you can test out the service and make sure that it is suitable for your needs, even if you are signing up for a longer-term deal.

Device Compatibility

Most people only use laptops, tablets, and mobile phones on public wi-fi networks, and these are generally well catered for by the apps that most VPN companies offer. If you do use any more unusual devices, make sure that they are supported by the VPN service that you are looking at before you sign up. This is especially important, as you will not have the option of protecting yourself by setting up your router to use the VPN service when you are using a public wi-fi network.

As you can see from the points above, protecting yourself and your private information by using a VPN when you are browsing the internet on a public wi-fi network is a straightforward and sensible thing to do. Getting protected is easy and taking a few steps to make sure you choose the right service is well worth the time.

How to choose the
best VPN

Many VPNs limit you to connecting a specific number of devices at the same time. If you have multiple mobile devices, laptops, smart TVs or other hardware to protect.