Internet Safety While Traveling Abroad

Many people travel to faraway lands for business or pleasure trips. Chances are they also have some electronic device in which they can connect to the internet in their carry-on or luggage. Most countries offer some sort of internet access, and connecting to the internet to read/send email or for other matters is the norm, no matter if you are a tourist or a local. This makes internet safety while traveling abroad a huge issue and we need to protect ourselves!

 

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Locals in a foreign country may know how to protect themselves on the internet. However, many tourists are not aware of things they should or should not do in order to protect their internet privacy and their internet accessible equipment from hackers.

Tips to Keep You Safe on the Internet While Overseas

1. Avoid Public Internet Access- When traveling overseas; avoid using public computers for internet access. This means do not use public computers that are in libraries, coffee shops, or internet cafes. There is no guarantee that the network is secure. Those who may be looking at what you are doing could easily intercept your personal information. There could also be a device monitoring every keystroke that you make.
2. Have a Good Firewall Installed- If you should happen to take your laptop with you on your trip, make sure that you have a good firewall program installed. This will help to ensure that your computer is safe from viruses and spyware.
3. Do Banking on Your Own Computer at Home- Make sure all your internet banking is done at home. There is no need to do your internet-banking while in a foreign country. There is no way to make sure that the internet is secure.
4. Use a VPN Connection- When on your laptop overseas; make sure you connect via a Virtual Private Network. This will help to ensure that your internet connection is secure and cannot be intercepted. With a VPN connection, your internet traffic is routed through that server.

Be internet savvy when you are overseas by utilizing the above tips to keep your personal information secure.

You may want to consider using Hotspot Shield- a VPN service. Hotspot Shield secures browsing sessions, detects and blocks malware, hides IP addresses, and allows you to access blocked websites (e.g. Netflix from certain countries). It’s a free download and can protect your kids while they are online.