How to Stay Cyber Safe with a VPN when you Travel

How to Stay Cyber Safe with a VPN when you Travel

About Before your trip

Cyber security is on everyone's minds these days, and travelers in particular can be vulnerable when they are on public wifi networks.

Even in your own hometown, every time you login to your local coffee shop's network or restaurant hotspot to do your online banking, pay a bill, do some online shopping or even access apps and entertainment, you open yourself up to all kinds of data breaching or even theft. 

When you're traveling, public hotel or cruise ship wifi networks are not as private as you may think. And outside your hotel, you may be even more exposed, especially in another country with fewer consumer legal protections.

A VPN is your best bet for digital safety – plus, when you travel, using a VPN can give you some added perks, like maintaining access to your favorite apps, social media, and online TV programs while you're away.

What is a VPN?


The letters stand for: Virtual Private Network. It's software that:

  • encrypts your internet traffic and
  • hides your online identity and address.

When you use a VPN, it redirects your internet traffic through a remote server from the VPN, protecting the information you send and receive, and thwarting those who may try to steal your data, or copy your passwords, or track your activities online.

Why do you need a VPN especially when you travel?


Keeping your information secure and your online activity private is a good thing whether you go around the corner, or around the world.

But when you travel, a VPN helps you in more ways:

·     Bypass country restrictions on certain web sites. 
o  Access your own country sites for search results on Google or Amazon or entertainment (movie) streaming sites so you can continue to watch your shows while you're traveling even if they are not available in the country you're visiting.
o  Some countries censor the internet and block popular social media sites altogether; a VPN might be your only way to get on while you're visiting certain countries.
o  Avoid getting messages like 'this content is not available in your country' – you can route through the country the content is available in!

·     Avoid getting locked out of a site where you make financial transactions.
o  Some financial transaction sites have their own security measures that 'notice' that your account is being accessed from a country that isn't the country listed in your account profile, and in an excess of caution in case you might have been hacked, simply lock you out of the account. You can imagine what a hassle that is to fix. A VPN lets you pick your global location, so you can choose to route through your home country, which doesn't raise any red flags with those sites. Plus, while you're accessing those sensitive financial sites away from home, your data stays secure.

Tips for Picking and Using a VPN


Do some online research to find the best VPN for you, looking at different features, prices, and reviews of VPN services:

  • Security. The best VPN's protect your private information even from themselves, with a strict policy of not logging your activity and two layers of security.
  • Speed. Using VPN slows down your connection because it routes it through an additional layer; choose one with the best speeds.
  • Coverage for all your devices. You'll want your laptop, phone and tablet all protected, so you'll need the VPN service that works for them all, apple or android or a combination.
  • Permitted use with entertainment streaming sites you use. (Example, VPN's don't all work to access different countries' Netflix).
  • Reliability and Worldwide Servers that ensure global coverage. If your connection isn't working well, you can change it to a server where it's strong.
  • Free testing period. So you can make sure it's the right VPN for you.

You're smart about all the other ways you need to protect yourself while traveling, make sure you protect yourself online, too.
 

Start your Trip!


Copyright BestTrip.TV/Influence Entertainment Group Inc or Rights Holder. All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.



Featured Stories


St. Patrick's Way: How to Follow in the Footsteps of Ireland's Patron Saint

St. Patrick's Way: How to Follow in the Footsteps of Ireland's Patron Saint

There’s a real man behind the legend that gets us wearing green every March 17th. And you can go beyond... learn more

VIDEO: Behind the Scenes Tour of the Submarine Hangar on a Viking Expedition Cruise

VIDEO: Behind the Scenes Tour of the Submarine Hangar on a Viking Expedition Cruise

Viking has two expedition cruise ships and each is equipped with 2 ‘yellow submarines,’ zodiacs, kayaks, and special operations boats... learn more

The Longest Hotel Pool on the Exotic Island of Bali is Inspired by Rice Terraces

The Longest Hotel Pool on the Exotic Island of Bali is Inspired by Rice Terraces

The lush, terraced rice fields of Bali are iconic symbols of this legendary Indonesian island, lending inspiration to the pools... learn more

See More

Don't miss any Travel News or Limited Time Offers! Get our Email Newsletter