You already have a VPN, it's called HTTPS. If you can't click on the padlock to the left of freerepublic.com and every other important website you visit, then you need to stop immediately until you have fixed that. If you don't see the padlock, then type https://freerepublic.com You need to do that with every other website of any importance.
Also if your password is stolen at some insecure website, then a VPN won't help you at all.
Roger that. Thanks for the heads up.
Can you recommend a place I can read more about this security? I have the padlock and it is clickable.