Internet Security Tips For Travelers
In the past, travelers didn’t have to worry much about their belongings when they were creating plans for their next trip. They were mostly worried about the clothing and money and in rare cases about some electric devices like shavers and hairdryers. Modern travelers are completely different. In addition to the aforementioned items, most modern travelers are travelling with their smartphones, tablets and/or laptops. No matter where we are, we all want to check our emails, search for things online and get in touch with the loved ones. Thanks to the Wi-Fi technology we are now able to do that almost everywhere. You can find Wi-Fi spots in almost every hotel and in many restaurants, stations, planes etc. Partly due to this proliferation of easy access, internet security tips have become more important than ever.
Awareness of Internet Security Tips
On the other hand, in the recent period many people are worried about online privacy and just because you are in another country or out of your home this concern doesn’t go away. As a matter of fact it will be more present than ever because if things go wrong while you are not at home you will find it much more difficult to solve the problem. So, here’s a short list of tips that can help you stay safe when travelling.
Use the lock feature on your phone
According to some statistics, more than 10.000 smartphones are stolen or lost in the United States every day. In addition, more than 1000 laptops are lost in some of the airports across the USA every day. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these devices are not found. This is something that can happen to anyone and that’s why it is very important to do everything you can to protect your device and using the lock feature is always a good idea. Every device has an auto-lock feature, so when you are traveling set it on quick locking. Use a code that is difficult to break. When it comes to Pin codes try to use a longer Pin code (6 or 8 digits). Some modern devices can use apps that are used for locating in case they are stolen. Make sure you download an app like this.
Use public Wi-Fi networks with caution
As we have mentioned before, public Wi-Fi networks can be found everywhere around us and that’s a real blessing for people who love the Internet. However, public Wi-Fi is not the safest way to connect to the Internet. Wi-Fi routers are vulnerable to hacker attacks. When you are connecting to the internet via Wi-Fi network all you can see is the name of the network. So, if you are connecting to a hotel network you are looking for the name of the hotel. But, chances are that some hacker has created a network with the same or similar name just to take control of your device. Many experts suggest the use of mobile data connection whenever it is possible or buying a local prepaid SIM card to connect on the Internet. Staying safe on Wi-Fi is critical.
Use VPN
Another great option is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Many IT experts confirm that this is the best way to create a secure internet connection. When you are connected on the Internet through a VPN, you are connected on a server that can be located in any part of the world. You are practically using the internet anonymously. In addition, you can choose a server at any location and get a local IP address which means that you can access websites that are restricted (US streaming services like Hulu, Netflix etc.). There are many VPN service providers and zoogvpn has proven to be one of the best options on the market because of the low price, fast speed and ease of use of their software.
Avoid using tags that reveal your location
Most social media platforms like Twitter, instagram and Facebook, use so-called geo-tagging. The app automatically reveals your current location whenever you update your status. Even if you don’t use GPS, the device will use the information from the Wi-Fi network you are using. If you reveal your location a lot of people will know when you are not at home or in your office and if the information is shared publicly this can be very dangerous. Go through each app and turn of these notifications before using them.
We hope that these tips will help you stay safe when travelling.
Yaroslav S.CEO at ZoogVPN. Yaroslav is a versatile manager with extensive customer support experience. His historical background and a deep passion for philosophy perfectly complete a real desire to create meaningful content and tech products.
