Free Managed IT Consultation, Virtual & On-Site. Get Started Now!
Dominick Fair

Dominick Fair

Chief Technology Officer

Proper Way To Use a VPN When Connecting To Public Wifi

young woman at coffee shop

It is a fact that the internet is one resource that the world depends on extensively. Right from government operations, the corporate world to our homes and personal lives, the internet leaves an imprint of its importance in our daily lives. Think about shopping, playing, working from home, researching, connecting with family and friends, live streaming, and much more; you can access all that through the internet. Given this, it becomes crucial to be able to protect your data. Let’s take a look at how you can use a VPN to help

The installation of public Wi-Fi services is one of the approaches that some business operators use to attract customers. Today, you can walk into a café, hotel, or office and surf the internet for free thanks to public Wi-Fi services. Protecting your data when using public Wi-Fi should be part of your priorities, and you can do so by opting to access this resource through a virtual private network (VPN).

A VPN allows you to use public internet services without worrying about the safety of your data. Organizations that work with remote employees rely on VPNs to keep their data safe when their workers are using public Wi-Fi connections out there. So, if you use public Wi-Fi from time to time, you can protect your phone, laptop, or iPad when you use a VPN.

Choosing A VPN

Before you use a VPN, you must first choose one. Multiple VPN options are available for you to choose from, but that does not suggest that any of them is ideal. The right VPN should not log your data, and it should uphold the privacy of the latter as well. Additionally, if you opt for a VPN that charges you for the data you use online, ensure that it is all-inclusive to avoid data caps.

When you use a VPN, the ideal one should also have servers in several countries to promote access to censored data from a different geographical location. For instance, when you connect to a U.S. VPN from Italy, internet services will assume that you are a U.S. resident and not Italian. In that case, if the VPN services you are using have multiple servers, you will have more options to use in case you have difficulties accessing one of them.

Using A VPN

In order to use a VPN, you need to first download the VPN app of your choice on your laptop, smartphone, or computer. Private Internet Access (PIA) is one of the VPN options you can consider. In the case of PIA, you will receive a username and password after downloading the app and signing up.

After that, you can open your computer, login into the PIA app, and choose the server you wish to connect to from the options available. Picking a city that is closest to you when choosing a server if you are a U.S. resident is advisable. After connecting successfully, you can use public Wi-Fi services safely without the fear of unauthorized individuals tracking your online activities.

In most cases, VPN setups are a no brainer. It is actually super easy to use a VPN. When you log in, you will receive prompts for applying settings automatically, and the connection to your device will happen like clockwork. Note that using a VPN to access public Wi-Fi as a safety precaution should be a priority even in environments that appear safe such as hotels, libraries, as well as your next visit to Starbucks.

Why Should You Use A VPN When Accessing Public Internet Services?

So why should you use a VPN to access public internet sources? Data is a valuable resource to individuals and in the corporate world too. As such, some will harvest data to sell it at a profit. Others rely on data when they need to identify the people or companies they should target with bespoke ads. For that reason, you need to know that as you surf the internet, every click you make means a lot to someone else out there.

Some entrepreneurs use your browsing history to send you ads of products you can consider buying, and others can use your details to reach you when they find them online. As such, you need to be careful with your private information the same way you are with your credit cards, wallet, and other critical documents or possessions. This is a simple reason as to why you should use a VPN to protect your information.

Some of the online activities that expose your details include surfing dodgy websites and downloading suspect software applications, checking your bank balance via the internet, as well as online shopping. Failure to protect your data when surfing the web is not an option because VPNs are available to safeguard such information.

Benefits of Using A VPN

Accessing internet services via public Wi-Fi when you use a VPN has multiple benefits including;

  • If you are a travel enthusiast, you can get reasonable rates online when using a VPN. The reason is that travel sites set their prices depending on one’s geographical location.
  • You can use a VPN as a wall of protection, as is the case of masking your IP address, which suggests that you can enjoy anonymous access to various sites.
  • Movie fans have something to gain, too, by using a VPN. For example, if you need to view Netflix shows that are unavailable in your country for one reason or another, a VPN can allow you to change your location. As such, you can stream Netflix shows accessible from particular nations without necessarily being there physically, thanks to VPNs.
  • You are sure that no one is capable of intercepting your sensitive online data even when using public Wi-Fi as long as you run all your activities on a VPN platform.
  • What if you want to access geo-restricted content? VPN becomes an ideal solution in this case. For instance, if you are currently in Europe without access to U.S. sites due to GDPR restrictions, or you are in a country with tight restrictions regarding online content, a VPN can help you surf such websites no matter where you are at any one time.
Website security concept and protection of data when you use a VPN

Conclusion

It is extremely important that you use a VPN. The limitations of the websites you can access and those you cannot, as well as concerns regarding the safety of your online data, are now a thing of the past in the case of VPN users. Also, VPNs play a significant role in allowing you to work remotely without exposing your company data, which is a necessity in the world we are living in today.

We can remote in and fix online issues so that you can access your data no matter where you are in the world! So, if you are experiencing an IT emergency, give us a call today!

Dominick Fair

Chief Technology Officer

Having IT issues?

Try our FREE AI-powered 
help desk. No login required.

BRAND NEW!

Need a quick fix?

No Credit Card Needed

Try our FREE AI-powered tech support

Describe the problem you are facing. Be friendly, descriptive.
Remember that AI can make mistakes.
If you’re having an IT emergency, please contact us.

SADOS AI can make mistakes. Consider contacting us for critical IT issues.

You may also like...

servers

What Does a Content Delivery Network Do?

If you’re interested in optimizing your company’s website to improve page load speed, boost security, or lower your bandwidth cost, using a content delivery network will help.

computer security 1

6 Steps to Surviving an IT Emergency

When you operate your own business, your IT system is your lifeline. That’s why it’s important to be prepared for an IT emergency.

News to your inbox

Keep tabs on what’s happening in the world of technology. We’ll send you new posts to your inbox

We’re committed to your privacy. SADOS uses the information you provide to us to contact you about our relevant content, products, and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information, check out our Privacy Policy.