Opinion Needed On Secure Internet Connection

[Iamcazzy]

I'm off on a canal holiday in a few days time. Canals are notorious for having poor mobile phone reception and where it is good, it can often disappear a few yards further along. Anyhow, I'm going to need do some internet banking on my tablet via an installed app and I'm wondering about the best place to do it. Usually, I tether my phone to the tablet on the boat and use my mobile network, but it's been suggested that I use free wi-fi that may be available in cafe's, pubs etc along the way.

Do you think that using free wi-fi like this is a good idea? I'm fearful of someone being able to extract my login details from these public routers when I sign-in and empty my bank account in the process. Or should I keep tethering my tablet to my mobile phone? The latter option seems the safest to me. I'm not really going to be close to a branch of my bank where I can do the transaction in person and I don't think I'll have the time to go traipsing into a town anyway.

Thank you.

[Buenchico]

Using public wifi does carry certain risks but they're probably exaggerated. I never worry about ordering things online using the wifi in pubs or supermarkets. (I don't use internet banking anyway).

However if you're worried you can add to your security by routing your web traffic over a VPN. I assume that you're using an Android tablet. If so, give ExpressVPN a try. (It's free, and well-recommended in PC Magazine):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.expressvpn.vpn&hl=en_GB

[Iamcazzy]

Thank you Chris. I am using an Android tablet so I'll give it a try.

[Togo]

You can use BT internet on a daily or weekly basis and use their Wifi Hotspots. All you need to do is set up card payment and you are in. Secure and safe.