How Using VPN Can Help While Traveling

With travel resuming, I find myself revisiting some of my age-old travel habits. Cameras, selfie sticks and tripods are a must for me. Given that I also tend to visit a lot of offbeat countries, one of the things in my checklist is getting a VPN.

Given that we are now in the age of media streaming and online shopping, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is no longer something too high-tech for average users. It is, in fact, internet security 101, especially while traveling. It masks your device’s IP address, encrypts your data, and reroutes it through secure networks, allowing anonymous and secure browsing.

What does this mean for you? In this article, we’ve listed five reasons explaining how these VPN features help you when you’re traveling. From bypassing internet censorship to preventing frozen bank accounts, we’ve covered everything. Let’s dive right in.

Privacy Protection

When traveling abroad, chances are you’ll be using public Wi-Fi wherever you go, from hotels to coffee shops. As convenient as it may seem, public Wi-Fi is a hotbed for hackers. While you may be answering emails, making transactions, and scrolling social media absent-mindedly, someone may be tracking your online activities.

The best way to ward off hackers and cybercriminals when using public Wi-Fi is using a VPN. You can enhance your internet security by using a VPN to encrypt your connection. VPNs hide your online activity, banking information, passwords, and other sensitive information from snoopers and stalkers online.

Surf the Net More Freely

Many countries block a number of websites due to government censoring. Such a practice is most prevalent in Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, Thailand, and Burma. If you’re traveling to a country that blocks mainstream websites, like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, or Netflix, you may want to use a VPN.

By using a VPN, you will be able to access geo-blocked content. The VPN allows you to connect to a server located in another location, unblocking most websites restricted due to censorship. While most VPNs work fine, some may not work as expected on sites like Netflix because Netflix keeps blocking VPNs. So, make sure you use one before traveling.

Prevent Frozen Bank Accounts

A traveler’s worst nightmare is getting their bank account frozen while in another country. To prevent identity and account theft, most websites, including banks, check your IP address. So, if you access the bank’s website or app in your country and the following login comes from the other side of the world, it will probably lead to you being locked out of your account.

If you’re still wondering whether you should use VPN while traveling or not, this is your answer. Use a VPN to keep your accounts and cards active thousands of miles away from home.

Access More Travel Deals

Did you know businesses use your online activity to target their ads and adjust their pricing? It’s true; location-based price targeting is not a myth. You may be able to prevent this by browsing in an incognito mode, deleting your cookies, and clearing browser history. But the best way to get cheaper flights and hotel booking is by using a VPN.

Access Geo-Blocked Media Content

The internet user experience significantly varies in every country, particularly web content. Many countries restrict content on mainstream websites, like HBO, Hulu, and Netflix. HBO only works in the country of your subscription, which means a Singapore-based account won’t be accessible in the UK.

If you don’t want to miss out on your favorite shows overseas, try using a VPN that lets you quickly access content blocked due to your geo-positioning. VPNs allow you to connect from the country of your choice to access your desired content.

Secure Your Online Activities Abroad with a VPN

Should you use VPN while traveling? The answer is yes. Using a VPN allows users to maximize their security and privacy while browsing the internet in a different country. VPN will help protect your banking information and keep your account active thousands of miles away from home.

VPN services let you hop over many online restrictions in foreign lands, like unblocking region-specific content, encrypting transactions, and keeping your online activities safe from prying eyes.