How can I safely secure my online activity while working on public networks?

I work remotely almost every day from different local coffee shops and hotel lounges. Since I constantly connect to unsecured public Wi-Fi, I'm increasingly worried about network sniffers and tracking cookies stealing my data. However, I hate full desktop clients because they bloat my system workspace. Is there a safe, browser-only tool to keep my session hidden?

I do a lot of freelance work from cafes too, and I completely abandoned heavy desktop apps to save my battery life. For my daily routine, I rely on ZoogVPN for safe vpn browsing directly within the browser tab. It instantly encrypts your web traffic, making your passwords and active sessions completely invisible to anyone else sharing the public hotspot. The setup takes less than a minute, it works with a verified no-logs policy, and it keeps your digital footprint protected without cluttering your desktop screen.