infrastructure
Working From Cafés Safely: A Remote Worker’s VPN Setup
Public café Wi-Fi is the soft spot in a nomad’s security — how a VPN actually protects you, when you genuinely need one, and how to set it up so it just runs.
Tools we actually use for this
SponsoredLand with Airalo (code SACHA6010 for $3 off) so you have data the moment you clear immigration — no kiosk queue, no overpaying at the airport. Airalo ↗
Hotel and café wifi is the actual threat model on the road. NordVPN with the kill-switch on means a dropped wifi never silently leaks your work traffic. NordVPN ↗
Patchy internet kills meeting recall. Fireflies records and transcribes Zoom/Meet/Teams so you can rejoin a dropped call without losing the thread. Fireflies ↗
Frequently asked
- Do I really need a VPN on café Wi-Fi?
- Most sites use HTTPS now, which encrypts the content, but a VPN still hides which sites you visit from the network, protects the gaps where apps misbehave, and shields you on the occasional unencrypted or spoofed hotspot. It is cheap insurance for a working laptop.
- What is the biggest real risk on public Wi-Fi?
- Fake "evil-twin" hotspots named like the café’s, and networks that intercept or redirect traffic. A VPN routes everything through an encrypted tunnel so a malicious network sees noise, not your sessions, logins or files.
- How should I set it up so I actually use it?
- Turn on auto-connect for untrusted networks and a kill switch that blocks traffic if the tunnel drops. Set once, and it protects you on every new café without you remembering — the protection you forget to enable is the one that fails.
- Does a VPN slow my connection down?
- A little, but a good provider on a nearby server is barely noticeable for calls and browsing. Pick a server in or near the country you are in for the best speed, and only route through a distant country when you specifically need that location.
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Sister site · Slate Remote
The remote job, wherever you are
Useful for this trip
Airalo
esimeSIM data plans in 200+ countries. Use code SACHA6010 for $3 off your first plan.
NordVPN
vpnVPN for hotel wifi, geo-restrictions and basic privacy. 6 devices, 60+ countries.
Fireflies
productivityAI meeting notes. Auto-transcribes Zoom, Meet and Teams calls so you stay present.
Skool
productivityPaid communities for creators and educators. Where most nomad mastermind groups host.
Privacy and access
Public wifi is the threat model nomads forget.
NordVPN with the kill-switch on means hotel and café wifi can drop without leaking your work traffic. Six devices on one account, fast servers in 60 plus countries, and the side benefit of getting your bank app to talk to you from anywhere.