Public networks are not all the same
It is inaccurate to describe every public Wi-Fi connection as unsafe. HTTPS protects communication between your device and a website. A VPN operates at a different network layer rather than replacing that protection. It cannot make ignoring security warnings a safe practice.
Verify the network name
Several similarly named networks can appear in the same place. Confirm the correct name with the venue and consider what information the connection page requests. If internet access unexpectedly requires installing an app or certificate, investigate why before continuing.
Captive portals and VPN order
Some networks show a welcome page before granting internet access. A VPN may not connect until that step is complete. Finish the network’s normal sign-in flow, then start the VPN and verify that it connects. Do not submit unrelated credentials, such as another account’s password, to an access page.
When you finish
End your account sessions and check how the connection closes. Disconnecting a VPN does not retrieve information already sent to a website. Strong passwords, updated devices and checking addresses matter on every network. The FTC also notes that encrypted websites can be fraudulent: encryption does not establish that the operator is trustworthy.