Travelling abroad can be a great experience, offering new and exciting opportunities; however, it can also present some unforeseen threats, especially to your online activity. If you want to keep your personal data safe while using the internet abroad, make sure you’re aware of these top tips.
What’s at risk when you go online abroad
When you go online in other countries, many people typically rely on open WiFi connections. It’s understandable, since roaming charges can be expensive and patchy, while WiFi offers a reliable internet connection. Unfortunately, unprotected WiFi connections pose a risk to your device and any traffic that passes through them, including social media, emails, and even banking information.
Using systems like this, digital thieves can steal your identity and gain access to certain accounts to seem more convincing. In general, you should avoid connecting to unprotected networks, but there are ways around it.
Basic security tips
Perhaps the best security tip is to use a VPN while you’re abroad. A VPN, or virtual private network, creates an encrypted channel to another machine elsewhere in the world. This machine then receives the requests and browses the internet for you, free from prying eyes. The results are then sent back to your device, where they can be safely decrypted.
This method of accessing the internet provides excellent safety, as only your device and the browsing machine know what you’re searching for. Of course, you might find it safer to avoid any sensitive tasks until you’re using a private and secure connection, but if you don’t have another option, then using a VPN is a great choice.
Another basic security tip you should keep in mind is to update your system’s software whenever possible. When new software is released, it often comes with new patches and protections that make it more difficult for hackers to access your data. If you choose to continue operating on old software, there could be several known vulnerabilities you’re exposed to.
Finally, make sure each of your accounts uses a unique and complex password. This should consist of at least 8 characters, with a variety of letters, numbers and symbols. Of course, complex passwords are difficult to remember, which is why we suggest relying on a free password manager to keep your passwords secure but easily accessible.
Access UK content while away
While you’re abroad, you might discover that certain content (like films and TV shows) is region-locked. Due to licensing restrictions, only people from that country can watch a certain program. VPNs can help you get around that. By connecting to a machine back in the UK, you can get access to all the content from UK streaming services while still being abroad. That’s because the VPN effectively tells the streaming software that you’re still in the UK.