The word “VPN” isn’t often what comes to mind when people think of travel, but it should. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have many applications when you are browsing the web from home, but they are arguably even more valuable when you travel, especially if you are going to travel abroad. Here are some of the perks of having a VPN while on the road.
1 – VPNs make public wi-fi safer
VPNs protect your data by allowing you to use the internet through an encrypted connection. These days, your connection to various websites and apps is already encrypted in a variety of ways, but someone watching your connection on a public Wi-Fi or hotspot could still see what domains you’ve been visiting. Or exploit security flaws on those apps or sites to gain access to your data.
A VPN prevents that, making using public networks safer. And if you’d like to avoid paying large sums for data plans while travelling, being able to use public networks with an extra layer of safety is a nice perk.
2 – Stream locked content
If you don’t travel abroad often you may be surprised to find that many of the shows you stream from home won’t be available at the hotel in another country, even if you use your main account to log in. That’s because region-locked content is restricted based on the location of the IP accessing the streaming account, not on where the account was made.
A VPN can allow you to use an IP from your home country to access your account, bypassing the restriction. Check out a guide on the best VPN for Australia before you leave on your trip, so you can pick one that will be able to meet your streaming needs.
3 – Keep your data private
Your internet provider can also have access information regarding which sites you’ve been visiting, and potentially even how long you spent on each site. And while that is not a lot of information, just visiting the wrong sites can get you into trouble in some countries. Using a VPN when you travel to more restricted countries is often a good idea. Better safe than sorry, after all.
Just make sure the country you’re visiting hasn’t also banned VPNs entirely. And pick a VPN provider that does not have a history of data breaches.
4 – Access social media
It’s not common to find countries around the world where access to certain social media platforms is banned, but these countries certainly do exist. And if you plan on visiting one of them, a VPN may be the only way to retain access to your favorite social media platforms.
5 – Avoid dynamic pricing
Many online stores and services have started adopting dynamic pricing practices, where they determine how much they’ll charge you based not only on what they have to sell but on who you are and how much they know you can pay for something. Airlines in particular have invested fortunes in their dynamic pricing systems.
This all done through cookies, algorithms, and by tracking your IP as you go through your usual online life. This means that even if you log out of a website, they still know it’s you, and the price of things won’t change.
VPNs let you avoid that by giving you a different IP, so you can see what the prices of a site look like to someone they haven’t identified as having deep pockets, for example. This can help you save money and preserve your privacy.
