Travelling soon? Find out if you need a VPN

In this technological age, gone are the days when vacation times mean logging off the digital world completely. With the internet being so readily accessible, most of us remain in constant communication no matter where we’re travelling in the world - be it to post on social media, check emails etc.

And if you are looking for the best data plans - we have got plenty of options: from 5GB to 100GB!

If you’re travelling soon, it would be worthwhile to invest in a VPN (virtual private network). Not only does it protect you from scammers, but it’ll also allow you to have private and secure access to the internet.

What is a VPN?

Okay, so what exactly is a VPN? Simply put, a VPN:

• Enables you to log onto the internet securely
  
• Encrypts all of your online data so nobody can steal your data - that means credit card numbers, cookies, passwords, and any other personal information that might be floating around.
  
• Allows you to access the internet as if you were in your own country. So if you were going to Thailand for example, using a VPN means that your internet location will still show as Australia.

Do you need a VPN?

Not sure if you need a VPN? You’ll need one if you’re:

1. Concerned about safety

While public Wi-Fi is convenient, it’s not the safest as it’ll open you up to hackers which can access your information. If there’s no username or password required to access the Wi-Fi, that means it’s not secure.

Your personal data and passwords are open for theft and yes, this includes personal information, emails that you’ve sent, credit card details, login passwords etc. If you’ve got a VPN though, all of this is encrypted so it’s not something that a hacker would be able to easily access!

2. Accessing websites and apps

Currently, there are countries that block certain websites and apps such as YouTube, Facebook, Skype, Facetime, WhatsApp etc. Certain online news outlets may also be blocked due to government censoring. This is particularly common if you’re travelling to countries such as China, Vietnam, and Thailand.

With a VPN though, your location will still be tagged to Australia so you’ll be able to access your normal websites and social media platforms with no problems.

3. Binge watching your favourite show

After a day of exploration or a sleepless jetlagged night, there’s nothing better than cuddling up in your bed to watch a movie or binge your favourite TV series.

Many streaming services are only available in certain countries, and while services like Netflix and Amazon Prime are available everywhere, their offerings can differ depending on where you’re at.

No need to fret though as this is where a VPN comes in handy. Simply set your ‘end point’ as Australia and you’ll be able to access all of the streaming services as if you were home - how convenient is that?

Certain VPNs allow you to form a remote LAN connection with your home or office PC from anywhere in the world. This allows working remotely to be a breeze as you can easily share files and access documents anywhere in the world.

Using the best VPN while travelling

When choosing the best VPN, make sure that you’re taking geographical coverage, good customer service, and an easy-to-use interface into consideration. Having VPN can also help with protecting both your data and online privacy.