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8 best encryption software tools for using free Wi-Fi

6 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

It’s dangerous to connect to freeWi-Fi, even when using your personal laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Hackers are always looking for their next target.

If the public wireless network you’re trying to use isn’t protected with a password, then it will expose your to security vulnerabilities, such as man-in-the-middle attacks.

That’s whereencryptioncomes into play. You can take the necessary precautions to defend your computer from account hijackers and identity thieves using security solutions.

What are the best Wi-Fi encryption tools to protect your data?

A premium VPN service

AVPNservice creates a secure tunnel between your unprotected wireless network and the Internet to encrypt all data that passes through. It’s one of the best and easiest ways to protect your online privacy and computer security.

But you shouldn’t use a free VPN service because it has limited functionality and a low server count. Besides, most free VPNs are ad-supported, exposing yourself to malware risks. Some even monitor and sell your data.

Instead, turn to a reliable, paid VPN service likePrivate Internet Access. It offers 256-bit military-grade encryption through the OpenVPN protocol. Or you can switch to WireGuard to experience a faster Internet connection.

Here’s what you get with PIA:

Private Internet Access

Out of all the virtual private network solutions we tested, we think that Private Internet Access is thesafest VPN for hotel Wi-Fi.

A secure web browser

The next best thing to using a VPN isTor. It’s a completely free and super-secure anonymity network maintained by a huge community of privacy-concerned individuals.

Tor was specially built as an anti-censorship tool for people living in countries with severe government policies that restrict Internet access.

But Tor is also one of the best ways to protect yourself on free Wi-Fi using multiple layers of encryption.

All you have to do isdownload the Tor Browser and use itinstead of your regular browser when connecting to public hotspots.

An HTTPS enforcer

HTTP websites don’t have SSL certificates, so they create security loopholes.

A cyber-criminal could intercept your connection, set itself in the middle of your PC and the remote server, and steal your email credentials or credit card info.

It’s essential to visit only HTTPS websites because they provide end-to-end encryption. It’s one of thebest ways to protect your PC over public Wi-Fi.

Some web browsers have an HTTPS only mode, such as Firefox, so make sure to explore browser settings and turn on that feature.

Otherwise, you can set up extensions that force your web browsers to always load HTTPS pages. We suggest usingHTTPS Everywhere.

A secure email service

We’re not saying that Gmail, iCloud Mail or Yandex Mail aren’t secure. But you can do better when it comes to using encryption tools over free Wi-Fi.

ProtonMail is an excellent example. It’s a highly secure email service based in Switzerland, which uses end-to-end encryption to make your emails anonymous.

Here’s what you get from ProtonMail:

ProtonMail

We think that ProtonMail is thebest email service with encryption.

A secure messaging tool

Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp provide end-to-end encryption. But privacy-concerned users aren’t too comfortable about sharing their private messages with the world’s biggest social media network.

If you’re one of them, check outSignal. It’s a free instant messenger that uses military-grade encryption to secure your data, even over free, unprotected Wi-Fi.

We believe that Signal is thetop messaging tool that uses encryption. And, if you need more convincing, you should know that the service is backed by Edward Snowden.

An antivirus with Wi-Fi protection

You probably don’t need to hear again how important it is to secure your device with a powerful anti-malware service. So we’re going to skip that part.

What you may not know is that a few antivirus solutions feature Wi-Fi protection to keep you safe when connecting to public wireless networks.

Bitdefenderstands out in the crowd. It has a special feature called Wi-Fi Security Advisor, which exposes network vulnerabilities and tells you if it’s safe to connect.

Bitdefender has numerous benefits against hackers, including anti-ransomware, an integrated password manager, webcam protection, and an Internet filter.

Bitdefender

Feel free to check out moreantivirus tools with Wi-Fi protection.

A password manager

52% of people reuse the same password across multiple accounts, and only 24% use a password manager,accordingto an online security survey conducted by Google.

Using a password manager to keep track of all your passwords is essential. Especially if you must often connect to free Wi-Fi.

It stores all those long and elaborate keys in a single place so that you just have to remember a single password to access the manager.

LastPass is arguably the best in the business. It has a free version with plenty of features for most casual users.

Here’s what you can expect from LastPass:

LastPass

If you prefer alternatives to LastPass, check out thebest password managers for Windows 10 PCthat we picked out.

A file encryption tool

Assuming that hackers breach your computer’s security defenses, it’s important to prepare yourself by encrypting all important files on your PC: photos, work documents, videos, and so on.

You might be surprised by what we recommend using in this case:WinZip. In addition to compressing files and extracting data from archives, the tool supports bank-level encryption.

Furthermore, WinZip integrates with cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive, making it an excellent ally forencrypted file sharing.

WinZip

Conclusion

To summarize, you can ensure your computer’s security when connecting to public Wi-Fi and seeing theOther people might see info you send over this networkmessageusing dedicated tools.

We recommend arming your device with a premium VPN service, a secure web browser, an HTTPS enforcer, as well as an encrypted email service and messaging tool.

But you should also get a powerful antivirus with Wi-Fi protection, a password manager, and a file encryption progam.

What tools do you personally use to protect your data from hackers over public Wi-Fi? Let us know in the comment section below.

8 best encryption software tools for using free Wi-Fi#

What are the best Wi-Fi encryption tools to protect your data?#

A premium VPN service#

Private Internet Access#

A secure web browser#

An HTTPS enforcer#

A secure email service#

ProtonMail#

A secure messaging tool#

An antivirus with Wi-Fi protection#

Bitdefender#

A password manager#

LastPass#

A file encryption tool#

WinZip#

Conclusion#