How can you use public WiFi safely?

There was an Answer here earlier this week that talked about the potential risk of using public WiFi, something I pretty much have to do when I’m out of the office. The question that this raised in my mind was, ok, good to know, but is there a way to use public WiFi securely when you have to?

Story added 23. August 2012, content source with full text you can find at link above.