Using a VPN on public Wi-Fi
Café, hotel, train and airport Wi-Fi is shared with strangers and run by someone you don’t know. A VPN encrypts everything between your device and the VPN server, so the people running or sharing that network can’t see what you are doing.
What a VPN does on shared Wi-Fi
Hides your activity from the network
The Wi-Fi owner and other users see encrypted traffic to the VPN server, not the sites and apps you use.
Protects older apps and sites
Apps and pages that don’t encrypt their own traffic are covered by the VPN’s encryption.
Hides your address from sites
Sites see the VPN server’s address, not the hotel’s or café’s.
Connecting on a Wi-Fi with a sign-in page
- Join the Wi-Fi network.
- If a sign-in or terms page opens, complete it with the VPN off; the VPN can’t connect until the network lets you out.
- Open TekLan VPN and connect.
- Check the app shows Connected and your protected IP before you browse.
If the VPN won’t connect on that network, switch protocol to OpenVPN. More fixes.
A VPN is one part of staying safe
- Only use networks with names you trust; staff can tell you the real one.
- Keep your device and apps updated.
- Don’t accept certificate warnings in your browser on public Wi-Fi.
- A VPN can’t stop phishing or malware you choose to install. What a VPN can and cannot protect.
Frequently asked
Do I need a VPN if the Wi-Fi has a password?
Yes. Everyone who knows the password shares the network, and the person running it can still see unencrypted traffic.
Will a VPN slow down public Wi-Fi?
Slightly, at most. On busy networks, choosing a location near you keeps it quick.
Can the VPN connect by itself on new Wi-Fi?
Several TekLan VPN apps can reconnect or connect automatically; look under Automation in VPN settings.