Going on vacation? Of course you are. After two tough years, millions of travelers are taking to the road again.

Whether it’s a business trip, city break, or a wellness retreat, you’ll be bringing your devices with you.

You’ll probably use public Wi-Fi at some point — FaceTiming friends and family, checking emails, or streaming your favorite TV show.

If you pay subscription fees for streaming platforms, you’ll want to use them on vacation. After a long journey, no one wants to receive the ‘this title is not available in your current region’ notification at the hotel. 

Fortunately, if you have a VPN, you can access your favorite platforms and enjoy the TV comforts of home. But streaming movies is just one reason why a VPN is a must-have accessory for travelers.

Let’s dive in.

What is a VPN, and how does it work?

A VPN (virtual private network) is an encryption app you can download on your phone, tablet, or laptop.

It’s a smart and affordable way to protect your private information at home and abroad.

VPNs hide your IP address, so your online activity is untraceable. It creates a virtual tunnel that encrypts your Internet connection, including the links you click, so hackers, advertisers, and online snoopers can’t see what you’re doing.

Watching TV online abroad

VPNs are popular with travelers as it allows you to change your IP address and access streaming sites and platforms.

Let’s say you’re in Paris on vacation. With a VPN, you can switch your IP address to New York and stream American TV in your hotel room. You can also track any virtual address and get its geolocation data using a reverse IP address lookup tool.

With a VPN, you can access geo-restricted platforms and protect your Internet freedom with just one click. 

Using public Wi-Fi securely on vacation

A virtual private network is essential when logging in at public places, such as cafes, public parks, museums, or hotel lobbies.  

These hotspots are vulnerable to theft as hackers can create evil twin hotspots to steal your private information. 

Let’s say you want to use “Starbucks Wi-Fi,” and you log into the fake evil twin network “STARBUCKS FREE Wi-Fi.”

If you use the fake network, your device’s connection will be maliciously re-routed to a rogue access point. Even worse, sometimes hackers will issue a “Denial of Service” attack, which disables the real Starbucks network, making their fraudulent hotspot the only one available. 

Once you’ve logged in, criminals can steal your passwords and photos and ruin your vacation.

A VPN solves this problem by hiding your IP address and encrypting your Internet traffic. So even if you’re using an evil twin network, the hacker overseeing it won’t be able to access your private information.  

Logging on anonymously while remote working

If you work remotely, you’ll probably want to maximize the travel freedoms that it brings. 

However, you may not want your boss to know you’re abroad. That means you need to hide your IP address. Changing your virtual background on Zoom won’t be enough to disguise your whereabouts.  

With a VPN, you can make your laptop appear in whatever jurisdiction you please so you can work as normal.  

A VPN will also help protect your company’s network on public Wi-Fi. For creators, businesses, and freelance workers, encrypting your Internet connection matters as it’s not just your data that’s vulnerable. 

Your clients and partners will understandably expect their remote working staff to take the relevant security precautions. That means using paid-for-VPN software on vacation.

Prepare a travel security checklist 

Before going on a coworking trip, you’ll need to safeguard your digital privacy. Here are a few things that can help keep your devices safe: 

• Log out of digital wallets before using public Wi-Fi – When using public Wi-Fi, it’s best to avoid financial activity, especially if it involves cryptocurrency trading, as thieves target open hotspots. However, a VPN will provide you with an additional layer of security, so make sure it’s always on.
• Disable Wi-Fi access points, Bluetooth devices, and GPS – You can relax on vacation by switching off access points when you’re not using them. It will save your battery, too.
• Avoid using public charging stations – When you charge your phone in public with a USB cable, it can sometimes take your private data from your device. If you need to charge your phone, consider buying a data blocker. This stops it from extracting your private information, including photos and passwords.
• Get a VPN – Before packing your suitcase, install a VPN. With one FastVPN subscription, you can protect up to five devices, including phones, laptops, tablets, and smartwatches. It’s simple, easy to use, and protects your privacy.    

Enjoy the TV comforts of home with a VPN 

A VPN is essential if you want to secure your devices and watch your shows on the road. By changing where you are in the world, you’ll be able to unblock geo-restricted platforms more easily. It’ll also help protect your personal information on public Wi-Fi.

While many of us travel to escape reality, our devices are portals to our lives back home. They provide continuity and comfort, and for many of us, that means watching movies, TV shows, and sports. 

So if you want to browse online without limitations, you can touch base wherever you travel with a VPN. 

If you want to unblock streaming sites and platforms, you can use FastVPN for $0.99 for 1 month. We accept Bitcoin, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and American Express.