Work hard, travel hard. That's the motto most people have when it comes to taking a break from work and enjoying a week filled with memorable experiences. Parties, museums, restaurants, and parks await in your new adventure across the border. When you're traveling, it's like you turn off your mind to the problems of the world and just enjoy a couple of days with pure bliss. But there's a catch.
In the places mentioned above, a hidden threat can enter your life invisibly. And no, it's not related to the pandemic. Instead, it's a simple Wi-Fi connection to a public network. One mistake and your entire balance or your identity can be stolen. Here's how.
What do hackers do?
Museums, parks, and restaurants are places where thousands of people pass through on a daily basis. The waiters that serve you already have their hands full, and telling you the password for the Wi-Fi is a nuisance.
To make things easier, the restaurants just make the network public. Museums work in a similar manner. Where there are lots of people, there's also crime. Hackers love busy areas because they won't be noticed and can use their laptops to launch a man-in-the-middle attack.
If you've never seen how easy it is to hack a device connected to public Wi-Fi, make sure to research it. Your mind will be blown, and you'll be scared to browse the net whatsoever. The reason why MITM attacks work is that they exploit the vulnerability of a public network. If you're using your data all the time, that kind of hack isn't possible. But when you're traveling, using data comes at a high cost. That's where VPNs come into place.
Virtual private networks hide your IP address and make it impossible for hackers to launch a MITM or exploit your device in any other way. Of course, that excludes writing your email and password on a public post on social media.
All jokes aside, VPNs are incredibly useful when traveling, not only because of security reasons.
Why are VPNs so useful when traveling?
After a long day of bar hopping, taking Instagram-worthy pictures, and drinking coffee, you'll come to your hotel or apartment to unwind and relax. Nothing's better than watching an episode of your favorite show to get you in the mood for bed. But, if you're in a different country, Netflix and other streaming service providers change their repertoire.
Instead of getting frustrated about why you can't resume your binge, simply connect to a server in your home country, and you won't face any issues. Many people have complained that VPNs slow down their browsing speed. That was true a few years ago, but now it's just a plain myth. Companies have servers worldwide, and the use is undetectable or even makes your speed faster.
Are all VPNs the same?
Not all VPNs are created equal! Marketing is one thing, and reality is something completely different. Many companies offer incredible deals only to have you as a customer and then don't deliver on their promises. Sure, you might get a massive discount, but is it worth it if you're not getting what you signed up for?
Virtual private networks change your IP address to make it look like you're somebody else. That way, your internet service providers will only know that you're using an encryption service, but they won't know what you're browsing. Because VPNs are all about privacy, they delete all the logs after you finish browsing to ensure no one knows what sites you've visited. Think of them as a more private version of Incognito mode.
It's always better to use the best VPN service instead of a free alternative because you trust them with personal information.
Do you need it on your phone?
Absolutely! Cybercriminals are always looking for the weakest link to breach a system. Desktop computers and laptops have multiple layers of protection already. For example, Windows Defender is on par with multiple paid antivirus programs.
However, that's not the case for your phone, especially if you own an Android. Androids are fully customizable, and the operating system is easy to navigate and breach if you have the chance. However, Apple users shouldn't be celebrating yet. Even though a bit more secure, iPhones can still be easily breached if connected to a public network.
Since you won't be carrying your laptop so much on your travels, it's better to install an app and keep your worries to a minimum.
A few final words
It doesn't matter if you're going on a short trip to another city or a month-long digital nomad retreat. You still need a VPN on your device. Digital security is even more important than physical security nowadays because criminals have learned how to evolve with the times.
Pay attention to your surroundings, and pay attention to your connection.
