What you need to know about using technology when you travel
It’s complicated to keep track of regulations and specific region-locked content, but with a VPN, you don’t have to.
Traveling anywhere means you’ll be packing the essentials. Phones, laptops, tablets, gadgets, smart-watches, handheld consoles, and similar are all regular items on the list, without which we cannot imagine our vacation. In the same way we prepare for any trip, our tech also needs both preparation and protection if we wish to get the most mileage out of them. With a few precautionary steps, all your gadgets will keep running long after your vacation.
For starters, get a VPN. Online security and data protection have been the main topic of discussion and a focus point of many recent debates. When you’re visiting a new country, always keep your documents safe, secure, and private. The same logic now applies to all your data, where a VPN can “mask” your online identity and allow unrestricted browsing. It’s complicated to keep track of regulations and specific region-locked content, but with a VPN, you don’t have to.
If you wish to do anything from watching streaming services, accessing location-specific applications, or playing in an online casino, then any VPN is your best choice. These services aren’t always available when you’re in another country, but a VPN can keep you both protected and connected. You might also want to deposit and withdraw using ETH or another crypto when playing at an online casino or otherwise transacting online abroad, for added security. It’s all possible with a VPN. Plus, you’ll keep your device’s identity private the whole time.
When traveling or going anywhere new, constant internet access is a must-have, but accessing public, open Wi-Fi or internet points is risky. Such open places have huge traffic and are rarely regulated, meaning you risk potential hacks and breaches into your device. When you access any public point, even for a short while, you are opening the virtual gates of your device to other users.
Without regulation and protection, public internet points do more harm than good. Getting a local sim card or abstaining from using online functions until you get to a network and connection you can trust is always a better option. Again, using crypto if you have to purchase anything via a public network is a good idea and means you don’t have to worry about sharing your credit card information over a potentially unsafe connection.
Data encryption, two-factor authentication, and cloud hosting are here to help you manage your data and keep it safe. If you should lose any of your tech gadgets, they most likely won’t ever be recovered, but your data still has a chance. Data encryption protects your privacy from potential thieves and makes any attempt to read it complex and near-impossible without a virtual key, which resides with you. You can always buy new tech gadgets, but you can’t restore lost data. So, ensure all these services are set up before you travel.
Most things we carry with us can last for a day or two max before needing to be recharged, but we need them all the time. Access to places where you and your tech can recharge may be limited, depending on where you wish to travel. Power banks bridge the gap and keep your gadgets running past their regular capacity. When you are in a pinch and far away from civilization, they are the best and handiest of choices to have. Just make sure you charge the power bank itself before you head out!
Roaming data costs are sky-high. Even if you take all the steps to limit and monitor your data usage, your apps can surprise you when you least expect them to. While you’re on your home Wi-Fi, do all the app updates and installations. These will bring the latest features, security improvements, and functions, making them up-to-date and safe for travel. When you update at home, you won’t have downtime while on the road, you won’t have to worry about running costs, and you’ll know that your device’s software is as new as it gets.
While backing up all of your data falls under data management, it’s so important that it deserves a separate spotlight. Before you leave for any distant place, backing up your data on cloud servers, separate USB or external hard drives is the best move you can make. Such external data sources should always be kept separate, safe, and preferably under a lock, digital and physical. Should the worst happen and your items get stolen, broken, or lost, you can always get a new one and make a full recovery.
Preparation is half the battle. Thinking ahead, planning for the worst, and hoping for the best will keep you carefree while you travel. The goal is to relax, unwind, and enjoy your stay, where your tech is there to enhance and store your memories. And after you’re all back from your trips, you’ll get to enjoy them time and time again.