Ipod Touch and public wifi

[MaxPower49]

This is a stupid question I know, but I have googled with no luck. Is it safe to use apps like facebook, tweetie, or sites like gmail from my ipod touch at public wifi hotspots? We are staying at a place with free wifi, you just have to go into safari and accept their terms and conditions to access the web. I’ve been scared to go to any sites where I have to put in passwords or personal information. Is it safe? Does the VPN feature provide any protection or is that for something else?

Thanks.

[0sync0]

Your information is not safe with public wifi.

VPN is safe. But VPN is not just a feature that you turn on. You have to connect to a server where VPN has already been set up for you.

[Eric S.]

Your information is not safe with public wifi.

But if you are, for example, sending password or credit card data to a secure (https) website, I would assume it's encrypted on your end and decrypted on the other end so it should still be safe? Obviously other data (for example passwords for email apps) wouldn't be.