Living abroad has taught me the value of having access to a Virtual Private Network (VPN). From accessing my banks and US-based work networks from my home in Brussels to catching the season finale of House of Dragon at a hotel in Spain, a VPN connection on my mobile phone and laptop has become an essential part of my digital toolkit.
However, VPNs are not only for expats or digital nomads. If you are traveling abroad, I recommend you get a VPN. From protecting your accounts to streaming your favorite shows, let’s explore 8 reasons why you need a VPN for your next trip.
8 reasons why you need a VPN while traveling
1. Prevent identity theft
Before setting off on your new adventure, you might put locks on your suitcases and tuck away your passport — anything to protect your belongings. However, your precious digital assets are often disregarded. Identity theft is a destructive crime that can cost you everything, and unfortunately, travelers are a common target for this crime. Using a VPN as you travel gives you a layer of protection from identity theft.
2. Access sensitive accounts
At some point, while you’re on the road, you’ll need to check your bank accounts, credit cards, and other sensitive accounts. Without the added encryption from a VPN, your banking passwords, emails, and credit card numbers can be leaked.
Flick on that VPN, and you can comfortably check on your finances and emails without the worry of any snoops looking in.
3. Watch region-specific TV shows
I know this sounds shallow, but keeping up with your TV shows is one of the reasons why you need a VPN–no spoiler alerts on vacation! Thanks to my VPN, I’ve been able to stay current on my TV shows, especially my HBO series like Game of Thrones or Succession. Thanks to the location spoofing abilities of a VPN, you can keep up with all of your home-based streaming platforms.
VPNs like Surfshark specialize in bypassing geo-restrictions. All you have to do is pick your country of origin (or any other country you want to stream from), wait for it to connect, and continue streaming.
4. Keep up to date with local news
Although I live in Brussels most of the year, I stay in tune with my Washington, DC-based news. Online news publications also tend to place geo-restrictions on their content, only offering it to locals. Just like streaming, you can still access your favorite region-specific news, blogs, and other publications with a VPN.
You’ll need to be careful with this one though, as you could be breaking local law without realizing it. If the country you’re vacationing in has blocked the site, it could be that it’s illegal to access it in the first place. Check the local laws to ensure you’re not going to get in trouble!
5. Encrypt your data on public WiFi
Whenever, I stop in a cafe or hotel, the first thing I do is hop on WiFi so I am not expending my data, however being on public networks can expose you to network vulnerabilities. Just because free WiFi is convenient and highly available doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Password-free internet connections often signify a lack of encryption. This makes it pretty easy for a hacker to infiltrate the network and steal user data. Data encryption is another great reason to have a VPN so you can ensure you’re never vulnerable on public WiFi.
6. Keep hackers out of your social media
The trip didn’t happen if you didn’t post in on social! On compromised networks, social media accounts are a profitable target for hackers.
Most social media account credentials end up being sold on the dark web to scammers. So before any of your friends claim that you scammed them over Facebook, ensure you’re checking your socials over a VPN.
7. Secure your remote working environment
It doesn’t matter if you’re a digital nomad or trying to get off the grid — there’s always a chance you need to check in with work. However, accessing corporate networks from abroad can cause disastrous data leaks.
Hackers only need one weak point to gain access to corporate networks. So, even if you’re only checking your work emails, it’s best to be on the safe side and encrypt your connection with a VPN.
8. Save money on travel expenses
One of the least-known benefits of using a VPN while traveling is that you can actually save money. Everything from flight tickets to accommodation is priced differently depending on your location in the world. I like to play around with different countries with my VPN to see what kind of flight deals I can get.
Sometimes, affluent countries are served higher prices, or an airline’s home country will get special deals. Through trial and error, you can score some significant savings on your holiday by shopping over a VPN.
Verdict
Here are my Dining Traveler reasons why you need a VPN while traveling. VPNs offer travelers an array of features — never again miss out on an episode of your favorite TV show or become the victim of identity theft. I hate spoiler alerts, so I am happy to be able to be able to access my US-based streaming devices without a problem via VPN!
