[mrss]

If I'm on a "safe/secure" web site in a public WiFi area, is the info that's passed via radio between my PC and the router encrypted well enough that I don't have to worry about it? For example, could I log in to my bank w/o having my password intercepted?

[lunarlander]

By definition a public WiFi site does not need an encryption key for you to access it - so its not safe to do online banking with that connection.

[mrss]

I meant a web page using SSL certificates where the info is encrypted, That's done in my PC isn't it, so someone with a packet sniffer on the line from my house or business can't read the info. Unless I have this concept wrong, wouldn't it work on a public area?

EDIT: I found out that info sent via SSL using https page is indeed encrypted before it leaves the laptop or when it comes into the laptop.

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[lunarlander]

yes SSL encrypted traffic is safe.