There are a lot of things that we mark against our checklist when traveling overseas. In the checklist, we forget to include the most important thing, a VPN. In this article, we’ll show you the importance of installing and using a VPN whenever you take a vacation or a trip abroad.
Security
One of the primary purposes of a VPN is providing overall protection when surfing the internet. When you are abroad, you may engage in online activities such as shopping, online banking and booking places to stay and others that involve sensitive information. To avoid online security risks and to protect your information, you will need a VPN. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and uses a secure tunnel for communications. Encryptions ensure your information is safe from prying eyes and in any case if its intercepted, it will not be of any use.
Gain Access to Geo-restricted Content
Depending on the country you will travel to, one thing is clear, some services available in your country will be unavailable. For instance, US residence will miss Netflix US and UK residents will miss BBC online services as BBC iPlayer isn’t available in other countries. Other social networks might also be blocked. But worry not, with a VPN, everything is taken care of. A VPN has a lot of servers, and let’s say if you want to access restricted US services, you will need to connect to a US server. By doing that, the VPN will assign you a Virtual IP address, and hence the websites and applications will think you are accessing their services from the US. With the encryptions and obfuscation involved, the local ISPs and watchdogs won’t notice anything.
Cheaper Flight Deals
Flight companies offer different pricing for tickets depending on location and the buying power of consumers. Some flight companies also offer huge discounts in some countries. Before booking your flight, do some background research and find locations with the cheapest deals. After that, clear your browser’s cookies, connect the VPN and select a server located in places where flight companies have lower prices. After that, book your price and enjoy your savings.
Apart from cheaper flights, you can also get other more affordable deals in other sectors. For instance, when renting cars. Some companies also offer lower prices depending on the location; this goes for online shopping.
Protection Against WIFI Vulnerabilities
On vacation, there are several places where you will be tempted to connect to the free WIFI. From the airport to the hotel room. Sometimes this public WIFI may include malicious people with the intent of stealing your data when you are using the WIFI. They have specialized tools that sniff out, steal and delete private information. When using a VPN, this is not the case as the VPN’s encryptions ensure you are protected. Also, with a new IP address, you will be anonymous and hence achieve some recommended levels of privacy.
Bottom Line
From the above, a VPN is an essential entity that should be in your traveling checklist. But be careful when choosing a VPN. Ensure you go for reputable paid ones. The VPN you select should have a lot of servers, high speeds, a higher number of simultaneous connections and also a good privacy policy.
