Security on public WIFIs

I am using public wifis quite a bit these days: Internet <=> WIFI adapter <=> PC

Given I am not behind the router, I am worried about someone hacking into my PC.   

Will Win10 default firewall settings protect me from any intrusion or are there any options that I need to turn on?   

Thanks!

Hi, Welcome to BC.

Win10 will help protect you at home.

You say you use Public WIFI.   There are 2 kinds like businesses or City/Town supplied.  Bother are dangerous.   You would need a VPN to protect you.

As no info on the system and not a Networking person.  That is all I have to offer.  VPN.

I personally use 3rd party A/V and Firewall and VPN on my phone as well.      As to what you do and using may have connection issues, sending email issues. these sort of things will crop up.

Hi, Welcome to BC.

 

Win10 will help protect you at home.

 

You say you use Public WIFI.   There are 2 kinds like businesses or City/Town supplied.  Bother are dangerous.   You would need a VPN to protect you.

 

As no info on the system and not a Networking person.  That is all I have to offer.  VPN.

 

I personally use 3rd party A/V and Firewall and VPN on my phone as well.      As to what you do and using may have connection issues, sending email issues. these sort of things will crop up.

Thanks for the pointers!    I understand that VPN protects the data privacy as the connection to the vpn server is encrypted.   However, VPN does not protect against someone pinging the pc at its public ip address and then running some exploits to get into an actual machine.    My question pertained to the latter and not the former.   It is also good to know that win10 firewall with default settings is supposed to protect against intrusion

You can also add a good anti-malware software.  More than an anti-virus, they look for the known malware point of entry.

Hi, no need to use the Quote All box, just Type. Thanks.

Malwarebytes paid version is made to run with other A/V Programs.  Need to turn off it's A/V as it works differently then it is a malware program.  Exempt scanning Defender.

Free is a on-demand scanner.

As browsers are usually 1st entry point : https://www.malwarebytes.com/browserguard  As well Ublock Origin in Advanced Mode, train it.  Privacy Badger and or Privacy Possum is all need for a browser.