Streams, public Wi-Fi, and unofficial sites

During a large event, people look for a stream on whatever network is nearby. Two separate risks get mixed together.

The network. On open Wi-Fi, other users and the hotspot operator can see traffic that is not encrypted. A VPN encrypts the path from the device to the VPN server.

The site. An unofficial stream page can still be a phishing page or a malware download. The VPN carries you there. It does not inspect the file you choose to open.

If a broadcaster or ISP slows a service, a VPN sometimes changes the path. It does not guarantee a particular stream will play.