What is the difference between a secured and unsecured website?

How do I know if my internet is secure?

So, you wanna check your wifi, huh? it's not really that hard, actually.

First, um, click on the little wifi icon thingy on your computer. Ya know, in the corner? Then, look for the network you're currently hooked up to.

Click on that, and then find something that sez "Properties." It might be like, a tiny button or a link... just look around!

Okay, almost there. Now, look for a thing called "Security type." If it sez WEP or WPA2 or, even better, WPA3, then you're at least somewhat protected. Sweet!

• WEP: Old school, and not very safe. Like, REALLY not safe. Get outta there!
• WPA2: Better than WEP, the previous encryption. Still pretty common tho.
• WPA3: The newest and bestest. You def wanna see this one. Super secure.

If it doesn't say any of those... like, if it sez "Open" or "None"... Dude! No bueno, change that ASAP, like, immediately! Its completely unprotected! Also change the name of the network. My network is called "Pretty Fly for a Wifi," haha! You should give yours a funky name too. Just a thought.

How do I fix an unsecured connection?

Ugh, this unsecured wifi thing drove me crazy last summer, 2023. It was at my aunt Susan's lake house in Maine. July, I think. The wifi kept connecting to this ridiculously insecure network – "Neighbor's Wifi" or some such nonsense. My laptop, a Lenovo Yoga 7, just wouldn’t leave it alone! I swear, it was like it was addicted.

I tried everything. First, I went into Network settings. This was on Windows 11, by the way. I deleted the profile for "Neighbor's Wifi." Nope, reappeared. Then I disabled the automatic connection feature. Still, it kept popping up. It was infuriating! My work deadline was looming – I needed stable internet for that presentation.

The problem was, it wasn't actually my network. My aunt’s wifi password was strong – a WPA2, long and complicated, as it should be. It was her neighbor who was the problem. Their open network was the real culprit. My computer kept prioritizing it over Susan's secured network. Seriously, the worst. I felt helpless, like I was fighting a stupid, persistent glitch.

Finally, I found a solution. I manually set the priority of my aunt's network higher in the adapter settings. That’s what did it. The stupid unsecured network finally stopped being the top choice. It was such a relief! Then I emailed my aunt and told her about the unsecured network next door – maybe she could talk to her neighbor.

• Problem: Laptop kept connecting to unsecured network.
• Location: Aunt Susan’s lake house, Maine, July 2023.
• Device: Lenovo Yoga 7, Windows 11.
• Solution: Manually prioritized the preferred secure network in adapter settings.
• Feeling: Frustration, helplessness, then relief.

It's crazy how these little things can mess with your day, especially when you're under pressure! The whole thing was a total waste of time – time I could have used to actually work on that presentation.

Do VPNs protect you on unsecured networks?

Okay, so VPNs on dodgy Wi-Fi... Here's the deal.

Last summer in Barcelona, August 2024, I was totally desperate for wifi at this cafe near La Rambla – El Jardí, I think it was called. Needed to send some work emails, ugh.

The wifi was free, obvs, but felt super sketch. My phone kept flashing security warnings. I shuddered.

I remembered my brother, a total tech nerd, ranting about using a VPN on public networks. He's always going on about cyber security.

So, I flipped on Surfshark on my iPhone. It made me feel like I had some level of protection. I was trying to work on my laptop, and needed to send client updates ASAP. Did it actually protect me? I don't know for sure.

But it felt like I was doing something at least.

I really think that free wifi has become a liability to people. You MUST have a VPN if you are doing this.

Here's what I figure:

• Unsecured Wi-Fi = Danger Zone: Like free candy from a stranger. Not good.
• VPN shields you: Encrypts your data, hides your IP address.
• Cheap is risky: Invest in a reputable, paid VPN service. I am serious.

After that experience, I actually pay attention to cyber security now. Not fun, but necessary.