How VPNs Can Protect Your Privacy When Traveling Abroad

Do you ever worry about your privacy and confidentiality while traveling? Many people head to the care-free mode on holidays and accidentally leave their devices vulnerable to cyberattacks. That can lead to some dire consequences, such as financial losses or even identity theft.

Luckily, you can avoid that with one simple tool and that is a VPN. A VPN can encrypt your data and shield you from unexpected risks.

As we explore privacy concerns during travel, let’s look at the main cybersecurity risks you might face. You’ll also discover how a trustworthy travel VPN can be a key ally in maintaining your anonymity. Finally, we’ll discuss how to pick a reliable VPN and share some general tips for keeping your personal information safe while you’re on the move.

Possible Cybersecurity Risks While Traveling

Malicious actors use various methods to harm or steal your data. And they mainly do it through unsecured WiFi or shady websites. To avoid dangers, you need to know about the main techniques that they use:

• Man-in-the-Middle Attacks. Basically, an attacker positions themselves between you and the server or website you are trying to reach. So, they can secretly eavesdrop, manipulate, and obtain information without your knowledge.
• Rogue hotspots. Malicious actors can create false WiFi networks that are free to access. When you connect to it, they can spy on your online activities and potentially do some shady things with your data.
• Malware distribution. It’s the process of spreading viruses or spyware. It can happen through infected websites, email attachments, or even seemingly harmless downloads,
• Login Page Phishing. Many WiFi hotspots redirect you to the login or terms acceptance page before granting access. Cybercriminals can create fake pages. They do so to steal your login credentials and potentially gain unauthorized access to your accounts.

See also: 6 Ways to hack into a WiFi hotspot – Hacking WiFi password

There are plenty of other ways hackers can invade your privacy. If you don’t want that to happen, you can learn how a VPN can ensure your security and confidentiality online.

How Can a Travel VPN Protect Your Privacy?

One of the main reasons why a VPN is the most effective tool to protect your information is because it encrypts your data. It creates a shield between your device and the website you are trying to reach.

From a hacker’s perspective, a VPN scrambles the data, making it impossible for them to read or steal. So, even if you connect to unsecured WiFi with a VPN, malicious actors will have a really hard time stealing your information while you travel.

Moreover, a VPN can help you avoid other sticky situations. Some countries, like India, China, or the UAE, restrict online content and freedom of speech. Plus, they closely monitor all of your activities. So, one wrong word, and you can get a massive fine or even prison time. Luckily, that doesn’t have to be the case.

For instance, you can get the best VPN for India, connect to secure servers, and prevent the government or your ISP from spying on you. Thus, you can enjoy total security and privacy even in highly restricted countries.

Lastly, to find the best places for dining or visiting, you’ll have to go through various pages. Most of them use third-party cookies and trackers to gather data about you. Which is absolutely a massive privacy breach. Thankfully, top VPN providers include ad blockers. They eliminate trackers and prevent ads. That way, you’ll enjoy confidentiality and a faster and cleaner browsing experience.

How to Choose a Private & Secure Travel VPN?

If you want to ensure your security and privacy while traveling, you’ll need a robust VPN. However, finding and choosing one is quite tricky. Therefore, here is a little list that will help you find a user-friendly private VPN:

1. Reliable privacy policy. To ensure total confidentiality, a VPN should have an independently-audited no-logs policy. Moreover, it’s even better if it’s based in a country with no data retention laws, such as Panama, Switzerland, or the British Virgin Islands.
2. Robust security features. You can avoid cyberattacks and other perils by using a VPN with strong AES-256 encryption. A reliable service should have a kill switch and IP & DNS leak protection. A cherry on top would be an effective ad/malware blocker.
3. Excellent server network. For the best speeds, a VPN should have servers in the location that you are visiting. Moreover, a VPN should cover as many countries as possible if you want to access more content.
4. Great number of simultaneous connections. During your travels, you’ll most likely take your computer, tablet, and smartphone. To avoid vulnerabilities, you need to protect all of them. Therefore, choose a VPN that has six or more simultaneous connections.
5. Quality-price ratio. A VPN shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. Otherwise, the prices should be justified. Nevertheless, you can get a reliable, cheap VPN for as little as $4.00 per month.

See also: Top 10 VPN Choices for Ethical Hackers in the USA

Other Quick Tips to Protect Your Privacy While Traveling

Apart from using a travel VPN, you should do a few things to ensure your online safety and confidentiality.

Before your trip, make sure that you’ve secured your devices and accounts. Use strong passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, turn on firewalls, etc. Additionally, don’t forget to configure “Find My Phone” on your devices if someone steals any of them. That way, it will be a lot easier to locate.

Furthermore, during your travels, turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your devices when you’re not using them, as they can be used by malicious actors. Plus, as tempting as it is, try posting any photos or videos on social media after you are back home. You don’t want criminals and snoopers to know where you are.

Lastly, after your holidays, change any passwords that you used during the unsecured section to avoid potential breaches. Moreover, remove any apps that you have downloaded during your travels but no longer need.

All in all, cybersecurity is not a joke, and you should care about it even on your travels. Your privacy can be easily compromised by malicious actors, advertisers, ISPs, or even entire governments. Luckily, confidentiality while traveling is just a click away with a VPN. And if you combine it with our tips, you’ll be safe and sound during your adventures in foreign countries.

Related Articles:

1. 7 Best Free VPN Software for Windows 10
2. Top 5 VPN Services: An In-Depth Guide to Their Distinct Advantages
3. VPN Hack – How to Track VPN Users?
4. CroxyProxy YouTube: Unblock YouTube and Instagram
5. VPN Scam – How to Spot Scam VPN Apps?
6. How to Stay Anonymous on the Internet – VPN is not the only Solution
7. Why You Need a VPN for Your Android Device
8. Should I use a VPN all the time? – 10 Real-life situations
9. Using a VPN with uTorrent makes torrenting a much safer experience