There are many reasons why users use a VPN. However, one of the main ones is to improve security when browsing through a public Wi-Fi network. Let’s say we are in a shopping center and we want to connect to a web page that is not encrypted. Now, what happens if we browse an HTTPS page ? Do we really need to use a VPN or is it secure and not necessary?
An HTTPS page is not synonymous with security
This can be one of the main false security mistakes that users make. Many believe that simply by entering a web page that is encrypted , that the lock appears because it is HTTPS, it already means that it will be secure.
Keep in mind that network security is very broad. It is not simply about entering a page that is encrypted or not. There are many types of attacks that in one way or another can compromise a user when they access a website. Therefore, the fact that a website is HTTPS does not mean that it is totally secure, that it already adequately protects anyone who enters. We already saw in an article the security of HTTPS pages on public Wi-Fi .
First of all, we have to say that it is evident that browsing an HTTPS page is more secure than browsing an HTTP one. However, our data will never be completely safe. We will never have the information fully protected even if we browse encrypted websites.
There are many vulnerabilities that can affect a seemingly secure website . This could be used by third parties to steal visitor data, compromise privacy and damage the proper functioning of a page.
However, even browsing through a VPN we are not 100% safe . It is evident that whenever we enter a public Wi-Fi network, it is best to use this type of tool to encrypt the connection. It doesn’t matter if we browse through encrypted sites or not. But this is not enough.
A VPN is not enough to keep you safe
Even if we use a VPN, nothing prevents us from downloading a malicious file, opening a link that takes us to a page that is actually a Phishing attack. Therefore, we must exercise extreme precautions at all times and not put our safety at risk.
A very important factor is to avoid making mistakes when browsing. Regardless of whether we are protected by a VPN, especially when we browse through insecure networks, public Wi-Fi networks , we must avoid putting our data on sites that may be insecure or even from reliable applications. We do not know what vulnerabilities may exist and who may be behind that network.
It is also essential to have security tools . A good antivirus will prevent the entry of malware that puts our systems at risk. There are many options that we have at our disposal. We must even take into account the importance of having the equipment updated correctly, in order to correct possible failures that may exist.