But convenience and connectivity can come at a price.
Public Wi-Fi networks, especially free ones, are not secure and can be easily tampered with.
Users on these networks should be wary that their browsing habits or login information could be open season.
There are several steps you could take to be safer on public Wi-Fi.
Take special care when selecting a public Wi-Fi spot too.
You may open up the connections to find a dozen options available, many with similar names.
double-check you are connecting to the official online grid provided by the business or location you are in.
It can still be infiltrated by malicious actors.
you’re gonna wanna have your wits about you at all times when logging on.
You should also have two-factor authentication enabled on your accounts.
This creates yet another barrier for snoopers that are trying to break into your accounts.
These are simple best practices that you should adhere to but there is still much more to do.
Public Wi-Fi is very convenient but it is still a long way off from being truly efficient yet safe.
Think of it as your frontline defenses against any attacks or breaches online.
This is especially important when accessing sites that dont use HTTPS.
Also, the operators of a public Wi-Fi hotspot have control over what sites can be accessed.
What VPN will you need?
The VPN market is flooded with providers offering different subscription services and free services.
We recommend that you opt for a paid service with a good reputation.
You get what you pay for after all.
There are several things to consider when choosing a VPN.
Firstly, using public Wi-Fi is just one aspect that makes VPNs popular.
What encryption do they use?
The standard you should expect is 256-bit encryption.
Lag can still be an issue when connecting to a far flung server.
Youll need to pick a server nearby.
IPVanish is another popular VPN option for travellers and regular public Wi-Fi users.
It has unlimited bandwidth and 24/7 customer services but no live chat feature.
Your VPN connection needs to be stable.
Wi-Fi is usually quite patchy so you want a VPN that doesnt drop off too easily.
If your VPN connection ever breaks, your personal data could be exposed immediately.
To get around this, some VPN providers have a feature called a kill switch.
The kill switch is like a safety net for when things go wrong.
If your VPN connection drops off, it will take matters into its own hands.
The kill switch takes no chances.
Several VPN providers have kill switch features including Private Internet Access, HideMyAssVPN, and TorGuard.
If you are already using a VPN that doesnt have a kill switch there are ways around this.
VPNetMon is a free software that will close certain programs you are running if the VPN connection drops off.
Similarly, VPN Watcher is a freemium monitoring tool for your VPN connections.
source: www.techworm.net
