5 reasons to use a VPN for Travel

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a service that allows you to use public and private internet connections in a safe and secure way without the risk of compromising your privacy. It is impossible to travel without the internet these days, whether you need it to check some emails, post on social media, look for directions or book accommodations. But despite this strong need to use the internet, you should never compromise with your cyber security. You should be extra cautious while using public or semi-public Wi-Fi connections while travelling. Here are 5 reasons to use a VPN for travel:

1. It provides safety, security and privacy

Wi-Fi is a basic necessity regardless of where you are travelling or for how long. Free wifi at restaurants, cafes, hotels or airports is always a delightful addition. But connecting to unsecured public networks can make you an easy target for hackers. Any data or information you enter while connected to an unsecured network will be accessible to these criminals. They will easily be able to steal your bank account details, credit card numbers, login passwords and a lot of other sensitive information. VPN is very useful in these situations. It encrypts all your data and turns an unsecured Wi-Fi connection to a secure one. Anyone who tries to access your information will get nothing but some codes that can’t be decoded. So VPN allows you to use any Wi-Fi connection you can get your hands on and secures your private and sensitive information at the same time.

2. It can circumvent certain blocks on sites

Some sites are restricted in certain countries or areas like YouTube, Facebook and Google are blocked in China. Gmail is restricted in Cuba, Sudan, Iran, Syria and North Korea. VoP services such as Skype, Whatsapp and Facetime are unavailable in places like Mexico, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt. This could create a lot of hassle and inconvenience if you are travelling to such places. VPN can help you connect to the internet through servers in other countries while hiding your actual location. This in turn gives you the ability to get around any ban imposed on a site and easily access geo-restricted sites.

3. It can help you binge watch your favourite shows

Even while travelling, you can feel like relaxing and just watching your favourite show for a while. But unfortunately, some services like Hulu, Starz Play or BBC that you might use at home, are available only in a few countries. Even though services like Amazon Prime and Netflix are available in almost every place, the list of shows available is different for every country. You may or may not get to watch the show you want. VPN can help you overcome these restrictions by letting you access the required services and content using the internet connection via your home based servers. Watching Netflix with VPN’s help will also let you watch content that charges licensing fees, has expired or has not been released yet.

4. It can save your money

While booking tickets online, airlines offer different deals to people from different locations. The booking sites have algorithms that use your IP address to check your location and sell tickets accordingly. A VPN can come in handy to save some money on flight tickets. You can use the VPN to change your IP address from your country to another and get cheaper tickets. Generally, an airline sells cheaper tickets in the country where it’s based. So if you want to get the best deals on flight ticket, change your IP address accordingly.

5. Avoid getting your accounts frozen

If you use net banking or mobile banking from a remote location, the bank may suspect a security threat on your account and freeze it for safety purposes. Such incidents have taken place a number of times. Getting stuck in an unfamiliar place with frozen bank accounts is not ideal. You can face a lot of difficulty and inconvenience until you rectify the situation with your bank. You can make use of a VPN to carry out online banking using the IP address of your own country to prevent your account from getting frozen.

These are the major ways in which a VPN can make your travels smooth and convenient. So, don’t forget to add it to the top of the list of travel essentials for your next trip.

FAQs

Q. What does a VPN do exactly?

When you use a VPN to browse the internet, it encrypts all the data and information that you share with the server and provides you with complete protection. It also conceals your IP address and digital footprints.

Q. Is using a VPN legal?

Using a VPN is completely legal in most of the countries across the world. But you should definitely check the laws regarding VPN before visiting a country. Some countries have imposed a ban on the use of a VPN. While some countries only allow certain approved providers. Countries against the use of VPN are:

  • Turkmenistan
  • Russia
  • North Korea
  • Iran United Arab Emirates
  • Turkey
  • Oman
  • Iraq
  • China
  • Belarus

Q. What are the requirements for choosing an appropriate VPN?

These are some of the requirements for choosing a VPN:

  • Pick out a reliable company– A VPN provider can easily access your data. Choose a reliable provider to protect your privacy and remain safe.

  • Don’t use free VPN– Providing free VPN can be a scam planned to steal data and information from you. Try to avoid using any free VPN for the sake of your own security.

  • Free trial– Connecting to a VPN can make your connection a bit slow. Almost all the providers will try to sell you the VPN boasting about the speed it provides. Make sure you get a free trial first to check the speed of the VPN. All reputable VPN providers offer a free trial with a guarantee to return the money if a problem arises within 30 days.

  • 128 bit encryption– For best services, choose a VPN that offers 128bit encryption. If a VPN does not offer this feature, pick a different provider.

  • Range of countries– Pick a VPN that has connections in a large range of countries.

Q. How do I get a VPN for travelling?

Just look through various VPN options on the internet and select one that fulfils your requirements. Keep in mind the countries you will be travelling to, encryptions provided and your privacy.

Q. How is using a free VPN risky?

Using a free VPN can expose you to many risks like:

  • Malware can infect your device.
  • You can be spammed with ads nonstop.
  • Bandwidth of your device may be sold.
  • Your data may be sold to advertisers.
  • Your data may not be properly encrypted while you are online.

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