We have to admit that the Internet is now very useful when we travel abroad. With your smartphone, tablet or computer, you have access to a multitude of information to find out where a place is, learn about the unmissable, book an extra night in a hotel or even an activity. And then, with the Internet, you can also use social networks and publish your holiday photos, or watch a film from your bed. In short, the Internet makes it much easier to travel the world. Yes, but during our escapades abroad, it is also sometimes useful to avoid censorship, to bypass certain blocked content, to protect your anonymity and to secure your navigation. There is a solution for this, and it is called VPN
What is a VPN?
As we mentioned above, the Internet has become a valuable ally for our travels, but depending on the destination, you should know that some Wi-Fi networks can be corrupted, and access to certain content and features blocked. This is where VPN (Virtual Private Network) comes in
The VPN definition we can put forward is the following: a software allowing to establish a private connection between a smartphone or a computer and a server taking place in another country. In this case a territory where there is no censorship on the use of the Internet. The VPN encrypts the data and offers the possibility to connect safely and anonymously. It thus secures web browsing
Before travelling abroad, it is a good idea to find out what the local Internet conditions are. A good way to see that for a number of countries, the use of VPN is more than useful for travelers!
Using a VPN while traveling? For what purpose?
Circumventing censorship, but also browsing the web in a more confidential and secure way are part of the many advantages of a VPN. We sometimes vaguely heard about it, but it is real, some countries in the world cut access to websites and social media. One example is China, where it is not possible to log on to Facebook, Instagram, or even talk with family and friends abroad via WhatsApp. We can also mention Vietnam, India, Russia and Burma among others. In these territories, the VPN allows you to bypass censorship. Also, depending on the broadcasting rights negotiated between certain countries, some content is not available. This is a geolocation problem, making it impossible to access national TV channels or platforms for broadcasting movies and series. Once again, the use of a VPN can circumvent the problem, thanks to a connection by locating on a French IP address
Choosing a VPN to connect to the Internet from abroad is also to remain anonymous. And it is always more pleasant to surf the web knowing that you are not identified. And then, the VPN goes even further by securing connections on the web. When traveling, visitors will tend to connect from airports, train stations or even cafes. So many places where Wi-Fi networks are not secure, and which can be the playground of malicious hackers. So to avoid having your credit card number and passwords intercepted, it is also widely recommended to use a VPN, for a 100% secure browsing
And then, you should be aware of a good tip when planning a trip abroad. The VPN allows you to change your location, so it is better to geolocate yourself in the country where you want to go before booking plane tickets, train tickets or even hotel nights. Indeed, booking platforms adapt their prices according to the location, and thus propose more advantageous local rates. Using a VPN is therefore also to make great savings. This software has all the assets to seduce globetrotters.
