Traveling the world is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and one of life’s more expensive pleasures, too. The sometimes-prohibitive cost of flights to far-flung destinations isn’t enough to deter this travel-mad country, though, if recent figures are anything to go by.

You’re reading this because you have designs on a long-term trip for the ages. You’re also reading this because you’re not sure how to go about it. While we don’t have room for all the answers here, what we do have room for is advice on one of the least-addressed topics in modern tourism: online safety. Pickpockets and street scammers are de rigeur abroad; what about the digital scammers, and what about keeping contact with loved ones at home?

Public Wi-Fi Comes with Risks

A good starting point is to swear off connecting to free public WiFi networks, at least, to swear off such networks until you have adequate protection. Public WiFi is an easy in-road to any connected devices, particularly if they are happy to be publicly connected and hence visible in any other connected device’s network settings.

Any time you use public WiFi to log into an online banking app to transfer money to your travelcard or enter your personal details while booking a reservation or logging into an online portal, you’re risking bad actors seeing and stealing your information. The results could be more catastrophic than simply having your purse stolen.

Protect Your Connection on the Road

This doesn’t mean you need to completely avoid public WiFi networks, though it would help to have your own robust data plan to rely on. Rather, you need to make some in-roads to protect your devices from the risks of public networks. One of the better ways to do that today is to get a VPN.

VPNs add a secure layer to your internet use, by making it look like you are accessing the internet from a completely different part of the planet. In short, VPNs keep your data private, shield your location, and make it safer to go online in airports, hotels, or coffee shops. Also, some are free to use a win-win where your data is concerned.

Keep Access to What Matters

VPNs come in clutch when abroad anyway, especially when certain local restrictions make it all-but impossible for you to enjoy some key home comforts. A common complaint emerges when attempting to enjoy some creature comforts while mid-journey, or during downtime at a hotel or hostel.

Streaming services often have region-locked content, meaning that show you were watching in Connecticut simply isn’t available in Cambridge. VPNs allow you to access region-locked content by pretending your device is in that region, a provision handy for far more than Netflix.

Practical Habits for Safer Travel

Internet safety isn’t something you should embark on during a trip. Make sure you get everything you need installed before you go and make sure to use strong passwords when you do, too. A few minutes during packing can make a lifetime of difference on the road.

Close by reminding readers that when their connection is secure, they can enjoy their journey with fewer worries. The right preparation gives them confidence to explore fully.