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What Are the Risks While Using Public Wi-Fi?
The problem with public Wi-Fi is that it’s always a bit dangerous to use. Through no fault of the providers, it’s too easy for criminals to latch onto their connection for nefarious activities.
Password protected connections are slightly better than your local McDonalds, but they’re still easily exploitable with the right know-how. That’s why it’s important to learn more about public Wi-Fi hotspot security.
Often, hacks can be successfully attempted with little to no in-depth knowledge. There are a range of programs available online that will allow anybody to access your info with hardly any effort.
It can be used to steal valuable information, from passwords to personal info.
Public hotspots can be used to gain access to your personal accounts, with the worst scenario being access to your emails. (From there, it’s easy to reset accounts and ruin your life.)
So, what can you do to stay clear of any potential pitfalls? Generally, a VPN is the safest way to ensure that you can browse the internet with public Wi-Fi. Here’s why using a VPN for Wi-Fi is the best option.
How Does a VPN Help With Public Wi-Fi?
Simply put, a VPN will guard against the worst aspects of public Wi-Fi.
A VPN works by creating a secure connection between your device and the VPN server. Most half-decent VPNs will then encrypt the data as it travels to and from your device, so it can’t be seen by anyone aside from you and the VPN provider. (This includes the company providing the free Wi-Fi.) A good VPN will have superior encryption, making it harder to crack the data within. They’ll also keep no logs of user data, so they’ll have nothing to offer if anybody is interested in what you’ve been up to.
As for torrents, it’s a bad idea to use your local library’s half-baked connection to download the latest shows and movies. It’ll work, but you could face restrictions in future without the use of a VPN.
Public Wi-Fi: Do’s and Don’ts
While it’s tempting to use a public hotspot for anything you’d rather not be caught doing, it’s never a good idea to access personal accounts, (such as banking or email) on public Wi-Fi.
Shopping is also a bad idea because of the payment process involved. Hackers can access mobile devices by downloading a simple program, which could lead to the loss of more than just your passwords and accounts. This includes photos and messages, which is way too personal for most. Public Wi-Fi security for iPhone and Android is well worth it to avoid any potential problems.
Strange notifications are another potential exploit. If your device acts strangely in any way, it’s best to disconnect from the Wi-Fi network at the first possible opportunity.
In other words, you need to be careful while using a public network. We’ve picked three of the best below.
The Best VPNs for Public WiFi Hotspots
Any VPN will be highly useful while connecting to a public network. An additional layer of security shouldn’t be taken for granted, especially considering the risks involved.
However, you’ll need to pick one that offers both speed and security, and they tend to be on the higher end of the pricing scale. Payment comes in the form of a range of different plans, including monthly and yearly.
We’ve listed three of the best VPNs you’ll find online. Each are great for dealing with public Wi-Fi networks, but they can also be used at home, or on multiple devices.
#1 CyberGhost – 45-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Bypass even the toughest of geoblocks with this VPN and use it whenever you need fully protected Wi-Fi security. You can connect up to seven devices in total and there is a hard-to-beat 45-day money-back guarantee which is rare for VPN providers. With over 3,000 server locations around the world, you can be sure that you can connect to unsecure public Wi-Fi without any trouble.
Cost:
- $11.99 a month
- $7.99 a month for a 6-month plan
- $2.75 a month for an 18-month plan
Try Now CyberGhost – No Risk – 45 Day Money Back Guarantee
For more information on CyberGhost features, read our extensive CyberGhost review.
#2 NordVPN – Solid, Reliable & Secure
If security is your main concern, you can’t do better than NordVPN. Their encryption is up there with the best, ensuring that you’ll be safe no matter where you get your internet from. They’re highly reliable, though the speeds themselves will fluctuate from time to time.
Cost:
- $12.95 a month
- $9.99 a month for a 6-month plan
- $6.67 a month for a 15-month plan
- 30-day money back guarantee
Try Now NordVPN – No Risk -30 Day Money Back Guarantee
For more information on NordVPN features, read our extensive NordVPN review.
#3 ExpressVPN – Not Perfect, But Will Do
We’ve saved the best until last. ExpressVPN offer a premium VPN, with speeds comparable to any of the others on the market. They have over 150 server locations in a range of countries across the globe. However, they are pricier than the majority of their competitors, and being located in the British Virgin Islands isn’t ideal.
Cost:
- $12.95 a month
- $9.99 a month for a 6-month plan
- $6.67 a month for a 15-month plan
- 30-day money back guarantee
Try Now ExpressVPN – No Risk -30 Day Money Back Guarantee
Regardless, it’s a solid pick for public Wi-Fi, and the high-speeds make it useful for a range of tasks, including streaming and gaming.
For more information on ExpressVPN features, read our extensive ExpressVPN review.
Overall
Overall, each of the above offer something different. Circumstance will dictate which is best for your needs, although it’s worth deciding based on more than just pricing alone.
While a free VPN provider might be able to protect you from outside sources, you’ll also have to trust them to keep your data safe. Servers tend to be expensive, and they have to make their money back from somewhere. Don’t be surprised if free VPNs sell your logs to third parties.
The three we’ve listed are sure to keep you safe on public Wi-Fi. Using a Wi-Fi hotspot VPN might seem like hassle, but it’s worth it just in case.
Conclusion
Unless you have unlimited data, it’s often too tempting to take up the offer of free Wi-Fi. With a Wi-Fi hotspot VPN you’ll be safe to use as much free internet as you like. While the websites won’t be able to locate the true source of the connection with a VPN, it’s still worth remembering that you’re piggybacking on somebody else’s connection.
We’d recommend using a VPN wherever possible while out and about. If not, it’s best to avoid public Wi-Fi connections if you don’t need to use them.
There are times when all of us have to rely on public Wi-Fi, whether on holiday, or if you live in a country where data plans are more expensive than the norm. That doesn’t mean your device should remain unprotected. Get a VPN today and protect your device from unseen threats lurking around the public internet connection.