Staying safe when using public Wi-Fi is questionable. There’s no guarantee how safe these networks could be.

One of the best ways to stay secure on such a network is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Simply put, a VPN is an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet that protects your information from more-than-inquisitive people.

While there are a number of free VPNs, it’s still a good idea to pay for one as they’re faster, don’t have ads and have a bigger bandwidth than free options that are available.

That said, here are 3 questions that you must ask before you buy one:

#1: Are you located outside the United States?

There are a number of services such as Hulu, Netflix and Amazon on Demand that will be blocked if you’re outside the United States. Most people opt for a traditional VPn if they’d wish to get beyond these restrictions. For this, you will have to pick a VPN that has exit servers located in the United States which will make you look like a US user. One excellent sample to use is Media Hint.

#2: Do you use torrents regularly?

A number of these VPNs block torrent traffic. It’s a good idea to read over the policies of the service before you opt for it. This also includes checking as to whether you are able to download a number of Linux distributions that you’ve been meaning to try out.

#3: Is it a cross-platform VPN?

Another important aspect of picking a VPN involves whether it is cross-platform or not. Simply put, the VPN should be able to work across all devices and not just on your PC.