Many people now work remotely and very often this means from a different country than they are native to. Working overseas can bring many rewards but it also brings unique challenges that you wouldn’t face at home.
If you were working remotely from your own home in the States then you would have a private network setup. When working abroad you may end up in a variety of destinations and that can bring risks to your files and information.
Everyone knows there are steps to take when travelling safely but computer security might not be one of them. Here are a few reasons why you should consider using a VPN when you are working abroad and indeed even if you are just traveling or taking a vacation.
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Avoiding viruses and malicious websites
Nearly every computer user understands what malware and viruses are. You might not be quite aware of just how often your computer might be under attack. Behind the scenes, your firewall and antivirus software is working to stop you from being redirected to malicious sites and infected with viruses but sometimes these measures are not enough.
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A good VPN or Virtual Private Network can stop you from being sent to these nefarious websites and keep you from accidentally downloading damaging viruses.
VPNs keep your data secret
When you are overseas you will end up using all manner of public networks. They may be in hotels, cafes, or other areas with WiFi for general use. Routers can be meddled with to redirect you to bad websites as mentioned above and on public networks, it may be possible for hackers to see your valuable information.
When you are running a VPN your data will be encrypted and sent through a ‘tunnel’ which cannot be viewed by snoops. The server being used by the VPN will act as your IP address too so you have more anonymity than you normally would.
Protect your business and employer
Keeping your files safe is not just about keeping them away from viruses but also you need to think about your employer’s network too. If you are using a hotel’s public WiFi to access your business network you could be exposing them to attack too. Using this tool protects your business and yourself.
Stop overseas transaction fees
These days even in the least touristy countries credit and debit cards are more likely to be accepted. While this is more convenient than carrying large amounts of cash and travelers’ checks it brings its own problems.
When using a credit or bank card abroad to make a purchase you might see an overseas transaction fee along with your home currency being converted to the local one. While a VPN cannot help you with transactions in shops and restaurants it can when you make purchases online. This is as simple as clicking on a location in the interface and the VPN hides your address.
Changing your internet location
As you have read, changing your address or location can reduce bank charges. This brings a couple of other benefits which you will see below.
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The way this works is when you open up your VPN you will have a choice of servers to pick from. By choosing one in your home country any website you access will think you are sitting at home in the States. This allows you to avoid foreign transaction fees and sometimes get a cheaper price too.
Accessing unavailable and restricted sites
Many countries restrict the use of the internet or in North Korea’s case have their very own internet. If you are working abroad it may be essential that you have access to social media, news, and other sites. By changing your address as above you can access these sites.
Even if you are on holiday there is a good chance you will want to look at Facebook or other social media sites at some point. Not only that, you may just want to access your own country’s Netflix so you can relax in the hotel watching your favorite show.
Can it help with data roaming charges?
A VPN can help with many things but unfortunately, it cannot help with roaming fees. It is easy to think that by setting your VPN to North America your data charges will be the same as at home but sadly this isn’t the case. According to Fortune Lords, there are a good number of free VPNs on the market so although you cannot save money on roaming there is no need to shell out on a paid VPN.
In conclusion
When you are packing your luggage for a trip abroad, be it for leisure or work, one other thing to consider taking is a VPN. It stops prying eyes, protects you from malware, and lets you stream movies and shows from your favorite services.