Need recommendations for best vpn for laptop protection in cafes!

Walked into coffee shop yesterday and literally saw someone running wireshark. People really out here harvesting data in broad daylight and nobody even notices 💀

Before dropping cash on subscriptions, check if your client contracts require specific security measures. Some companies mandate particular solutions or won't work with freelancers using public wifi at all

Tether to your phone instead? Solved this whole issue for me.

Bonus: can't get distracted by other cafe patrons when headphones in + focused mode activated

tried bunch of options when traveling. Settled on using surfshark with their killswitch feature enabled. Decent compromise between security and still being able to actually load websites without waiting forever

consider investing in privacy screen first - shoulder surfing bigger threat than packet sniffing imo

each cafe wifi hits different. sketchy diner near me? absolutely need protection. fancy coworking space with enterprise setup? probably fine with basic https

Invested in a dedicated 4G modem last month. Separate data plan but worth every penny for peace of mind. Fits in my bag and creates personal hotspot wherever

careful with those "secure wifi" browser extensions - half of them collecting more data than they protect. Proper vpn or nothing

Stopped using public networks entirely after losing access to instagram account last year. No proof it was cafe wifi related but timing suspicious af

Don't forget physical security. Stepped away for bathroom break, came back to laptop slightly moved. Never leave devices unattended now regardless of software protection

ask yourself what you're actually protecting against. casual snooping? corporate espionage? government surveillance? each requires completely different approach

VPN slows connection but password manager absolutely essential. Unique complex password for every site = basic requirement for public wifi survival

Dumped expressvpn after they couldn't explain why my banking site kept flagging suspicious login attempts. Switched to smaller provider with actual human support when things go wrong

tech guy at my coworking space says they reset network daily because people setting up evil twin attacks with similar network names. verify wifi SSID before connecting every single time

Mobile data not affordable everywhere. International freelancers basically required to use cafe wifi with protection when traveling

most "public wifi dangers" massively overblown by security companies selling solutions to problems that rarely happen in real life