Wherever your next destination is, technology is advancing at a rapid rate. With countries around the world where internet traffic is monitored or in some cases, restricted, I recommend signing up for a VPN service. Here are 3 reasons an expat should get VPN.
But first, what is a VPN?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. In simple terms, it means that when you turn on your smartphone or laptop to access Facebook, you’re actually accessing Facebook from somewhere else in the world, not where you physically are (although that’s an option as well). With a VPN service, you first connect to a server that’s located anywhere in the world, as long as your VPN provider has a server there. Once enabled, any traffic that you’re sending, goes into that server and out of that server to hit wherever you initially wanted to go.
Read on to see how a VPN service can help you!
Internet Security
VPN masks your laptop or computer’s IP address and encrypts your internet connection. This means that which ever website you’re browsing to, or whatever internet traffic you’re sending and receiving, no one can intercept and see that traffic.
In real life scenarios, this may include email messages or viewing pictures online that you took from your vacation in the Maldives. Whenever I return from a trip, I like to backup all my photos and videos before I lose them, for whatever reason. Sometimes, this meant backing it up to my cloud storage (i.e. Dropbox, Box.com). By using a VPN, I am securing my uploads and/or downloads when accessing these websites.
Privacy
When you’re an expat, you may still need to do your personal banking in your home country. Using public hotspots, you run the possibility of leaking your financial information to sniffers or identity thieves.
If you enable VPN, you’re essentially putting your device behind a tunnel so hackers cannot identify who you are and where you’re coming from. If you’re in a coffee shop or a mall and connecting to a public Wi-Fi network, you run the risk of exposing your personal information. There are chances hackers can find their way into your device and retrieve personal and confidential information.
For example, you connect your laptop via VPN to the United States while you’re sitting at a local Starbucks in London, UK. To the outside world on the Internet, your laptop is connecting from the United States instead of the UK. Websites can’t track your true location because all they’ll see is the IP address of the VPN server you’re connecting to.
Internet Freedom
If you’re an expat in a country where they’re monitoring your browsing history or perhaps certain websites are restricted, then VPN can solve that problem. This includes accessing region-specific media such as Netflix or BBC iPlayer. For certain shows, they may only be showing in the US or Canada and once you relocate to Europe or Asia, you might lose access to the latest episodes. Enabling VPN allows you to access regional content.
However, Netflix now has restricted access when using a VPN so if you have a solution, please share in the comments below!
One other restriction is that some countries block VOIP or Video Messaging services such as Skype, Facetime, or Whatsapp Calling. By using a VPN, those services will be available again for you to keep in touch with your family and friends back home.
Disclaimer: Do keep in mind and do your research first to make sure that VPNs are legal in your resident country!
Now that you know why you should register for a VPN service, you’re probably thinking “Which one is the best one?”
There are several VPN companies out there and some are reputable and reliable and some not so much. Upon doing my own research, I went with PureVPN – they have 500+ servers in over 140 countries, speeds are reliable, and they allow up to 5 simultaneous devices on 1 account (to be transparent, . This is purely (pun intended) my personal opinion and I am not a networking expert although I have some experience in the field.
I encourage you to do some additional research to find out which one works best for you!
Do you use a VPN service now? Which one do you find to be the most reliable and what is your primary use for one?
