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How does a VPN protect you on public WiFi?

Oct 19, 2023   |   3 mins
How does a VPN protect you on public WiFi?

Today, you can connect to an open Wi-Fi network and use the resources to browse the web almost every time, no matter where you are. A free and wide coverage network allows you to stay connected to your WiFi network in restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, and even parking lots. However, all these easily accessible public connections come with significant security risks.

Your data is most vulnerable when you’re connected to public WiFi.


Here are some of the most likely risks associated with using public Wi-Fi:


Hackers can passively intercept data sent between web browsers and web servers. As a result, they can capture any email, web search or file transmitted over an unsecured network.

Fake Wi-Fi actively set up by hackers to trick users into connecting to a Wi-Fi connection. Once a user is connected, the hacker can view all internet traffic and even ask for confidential information such as credit card details, login passwords, mobile phone numbers, etc., thus indicating that they are legitimate paid access transactions.

Intranet attack. In this case, devices on the same intranet can access each other, so other users may get all the information on your device.

Most people do nothing to protect themselves when using any public Wi-Fi. Maybe it’s because people don’t fully recognize the threat it can pose.


The danger comes from unencrypted website connections or unencrypted authentication.

If you submit your login details via HTTP, your username and password are usually submitted in plain text, which can be easily intercepted by anyone listening to them.

Connecting via authenticated HTTPS is the primary solution to the above problems. Your information will be most secure if your connection is encrypted and authenticated by a certificate authority. Attackers will no longer be able to determine the exact page you are visiting or your login information. This is the case when the URL in the browser is prefixed with a green lock and “https:”.


While the risks of using public Wi-Fi are inherent, there is no doubt that including HTTPS, antivirus software, firewalls, etc., do play a vital role in providing online security, but when it comes to public Wi-Fi they not enough.

When you browse the web, please at least check that your connection is encrypted.

However, most of us are clueless about how mobile apps transmit our sensitive data.


While not to worry, there is a solution and it is a VPN, a technology that solves problems associated with public Wi-Fi.


HTTPS is utilized to encrypt the target content of the user request, but the destination of the request is not encrypted.

On this basis, the VPN further encrypts the access destination, thereby protecting the security of the user device to the VPN network router segment.

In addition to this, the solution to the security risks of fake Wi-Fi and being directed to seemingly real websites, VPN adds another layer of encryption to the information sent by the user from the devices.

Hence, the administrator of the Wi-Fi cannot obtain the target address and content of the user’s request, and cannot take advantage of the loophole to reproduce a fake and seamless website.


X-VPN brings security protection and additional privacy technical support for both ordinary users and commercial use.


You can learn more about the impact and considerations of public network environments on payments.


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