VPN
Using a VPN on Public Wi-Fi
What a VPN protects on shared networks and which precautions still matter.
Airport, hotel and café Wi-Fi is convenient, but you rarely know who manages the network or whether the hotspot name is genuine. A VPN can reduce what other people on that local network can learn from your traffic.
What the tunnel protects
The encrypted tunnel protects traffic between your device and the VPN server. This makes local snooping more difficult and prevents the hotspot operator from directly reading the contents of that connection.
What it cannot verify
A VPN does not prove that a login page is legitimate, remove malware or stop you from entering a password into a convincing phishing site. It also does not fix weak security in the websites and services you use.
A safer connection routine
Confirm the network name with staff, disable automatic connection, use HTTPS, keep sharing features off and enable multi-factor authentication on important accounts. If the network behaves strangely, use your own mobile hotspot instead.
The bottom line
Use a VPN as one layer of public-network safety, not as permission to ignore browser warnings or suspicious login prompts.