When you’re traveling overseas, it’s important to protect yourself and your own privacy by taking the right security measures. Using a VPN helps protect your internet traffic from interception by a hacker or local government. Unfortunately, you never know these days who’s a threat to your privacy. Your best bet is to use the best possible security measures whenever you go online, even if you’re just browsing social media.
If you’re wondering if a VPN is really for you, consider these top reasons why you need to be using a VPN while traveling abroad.
1. Protect Yourself From Hackers And Other Thieves
Plenty of people have nefarious reasons these days for wanting to break into your computer. Of course, you want to do everything you can to stop them. Even if you’re not shopping online or doing online banking while you’re abroad, it’s best to cover your tracks every time you log on.
Sadly, without a VPN, you’re a lot easier to hack. It’s just not worth the risk.
2. Become Invisible To Governments
You might normally think of governments as the good guys, but there are many overseas governments who censor the local internet service and carefully follow the activities of both citizens and visitors alike. With a VPN, you can prevent government officials from seeing what you do online and from monitoring your online traffic.
3. Public Wifi Networks Don’t Provide Much Protection
The security measures of public wifi networks are pretty limited and run the risk of exposing your internet traffic to hackers. Don’t assume every public wifi network is safe. You don’t know what security measures the local government is using.
4. Take Your Internet Security Into Your Own Hands
Why leave your security to anyone else? With a VPN, you can make sure your online traffic using the best possible security protocols.
5. Worry Less, Travel More
Realistically, when you’re overseas, you’ll be focusing on your travel and probably won’t want to give your online browsing much thought. Instead of feeling like you constantly have to look over your shoulder, you’ll want to focus on the local attractions and think about where you’re traveling instead of feeling preoccupied with your online security.
6. Avoid Censorship
Did you know that a lot of countries have banned specific website? Even some of the most popular websites such as Facebook, Twitter or even Google are banned in some nations for containing risky or inappropriate content? If you want to access these sites or your email you need to use a VPN when traveling. When you connect to a virtual private network, your connection will be routed through a VPN that doesn’t have the same censorship limitations.
Streaming services may also be censored in different countries. For example, the popular BBC iPlayer is restricted in many countries which can result in very little if any content being displayed. However,  finding the right VPN that can grant you access and get you into the BBC iPlayer content. Finding a dedicated VPN IP address may allow you to access all of your favorite BBC content when outside of the UK.
7. Pay Lower Prices
Believe it or not, many businesses charge more for certain online products and services for individual shoppers. Maybe they believe you personally would pay more for something and that they’d get away with it. If they can see your internet traffic, they may try to charge you more for hotel rooms and rental cars, flights and other services. How crazy is that? You don’t want to pay more for anything than you have to!
8. Better Safe Than Sorry
Since VPNs do so much for you, you’re better off using them. It’s not worth the risk. Find the VPN that’s right for you and get it set up before your trip.
