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.

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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.

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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.

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