The Traveler's Guide To Safely Using The Internet Everywhere
Frequent travelers tend to get really great at executing routines perfectly. They show up to the airport with the perfect amount of time before their flight boards. They never forget to pack a toothbrush and toothpaste. They know which hotels have the best room service and which ones are only good for a quick continental breakfast.
But one thing that's easy to forget is that the internet security threats don't have borders. And just because you're not in your home zip code does not give you an excuse to slip out of your defensive browsing routine.
The folks at the Encrypt.me, makers of the ultra-secure and easy-to-use Encrypt.me VPN app, know a thing or two about travel and about a thousand things about safe internet. With their help, we put together a simple three-step guide to surfing the web securely all over the world.
Be Careful About What You Connect Your Devices To
When you're on the go, you'll likely run into tons of options for internet connectivity. Airports have WiFi, hotels have internet, and most coffee shops, restaurants and bars likely have it too. Especially in touristy locations with a lot of out-of-towners, finding your way to the World Wide Web can be a snap.
But as any beachgoer knows, just because it's convenient doesn't mean it's good! And that's especially true for wireless internet connections. When traveling it's best to only connect to WiFi networks you can verify are safe, and ideally ones that you actually know or have control over. Otherwise, it can be really easy to get roped into something really shady.
For example, any traveling internet user should be aware of something called a WiFi pineapple. There's a good episode of the podcast Reply All that explains them well, but essentially it's a device that pretends to be a safe WiFi network, but actually is just a tool to steal your usernames, passwords and other sensitive data. Nowhere near as fun as it sounds.
Remember: It's Okay To Be Offline Sometimes
Do you *always* need WiFi when you're on the go? Probably not. It makes sense that disconnecting after what feels like a lifetime of being plugged into the internet might cause a little anxiety. But it's definitely better to lay off the internet than to connect to a network that doesn't seem super trustworthy.
The one thing everyone needs while traveling is navigation though, and luckily there's a good way to steer around that obstacle without chewing through mobile data or connecting to an unscrupulous router. Google Maps allows you to download maps for entire areas on iOS and Android, which means you can load up on navigation information while you're connected to the internet at your home or hotel and then rely on that and your phone's GPS to get around. No weird WiFi required.
Get A VPN You Can Rely On For Safe Browsing Any Time, Any Place
When you do have to log onto the internet in a strange land, the best way is through a VPN. By encrypting your traffic, VPNs make it safe to use WiFi networks that might otherwise pose security threats. Whether you're in a cafe or an Airbnb, a VPN like Encrypt.me is a great tool for ensuring that your passwords and other sensitive data doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
Encrypt.me is especially good because it's smart and simple to use. With its "auto-secure" feature enabled, the iOS, Android, Windows, Mac and Amazon-friendly app will automatically switch on whenever your device is connected to a network that you haven't already marked "trusted." That way you don't have to worry about remembering, Encrypt.me takes care of that part of your routine for you.
Encrypt.me even offers a free trial that lasts 14 days — long enough for a roundtrip somewhere far, far away from home. You can download it before you leave for your next getaway.
One More Thing About Encrypt.me And Your Next Vacation
Right now, Encrypt.me is kicking off a partnership with FLYTE, a non-profit organization that empowers students living in underserved communities through transformative experiences. Short for Foundation for Learning and Youth Travel Education, FLYTE has already sent kids who otherwise would never get to travel a whopping 274,884 miles. And Encrypt.me is helping FLYTE achieve even more. If users — even free-trial users! — share any travel photos to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram Encrypt.me will donate $5 to the cause. And any user who uploads a photo from a handful of special locations — like Machu Picchu in Peru, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, or Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe — will trigger a donation of up to $100.
Read more about Encrypt.me's awesome partnership (and download the stellar app) at the company's website right here.
Encrypt.me is an easy-to-use application for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Amazon Fire OS that makes it simple to browse the internet securely, no matter where you are. Sign up for 14-day free trial today.