Going off-grid doesn’t always mean having to go offline

Going off-grid doesn’t always mean having to go offline

One of the few areas where it’s possible to be away from constant interruptions from a phone or mobile device is high in the mountains of the Himalaya. Not only is the incredible scenery, clean air, and lack of crowds good for the soul, but the respite from being bombarded by emails and social media notifications is very good for one’s mental health.
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But - some might say unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to have any sort of life other than being a hermit these days without connecting to the internet. If you want to check your bank account or even health records, you’ve got to be online.

Train tickets, flight reservations and hotel rooms are all purchased online now, so apart from turning up in a hillside village hostel with a rucksack – if you’re wanting to book any sort of travel, sporting activity or accommodation – you’re stuck with the world wide web.

VPN security

This is where online security can be notoriously problematic. Public wi-fi networks in small-town cafés or bars can often be hotspots for cyber criminals to catch unwary backpackers into giving away passwords and credit card details using clever scams. That’s where a VPN comes in very handy when travelling; it’s the simplest no-cost option to keep your cyber-security safe when going off-grid.

A VPN (virtual private network) is a system whereby the VPN provider simply places an intermediate server between the user’s personal device and the internet connection in question. It means that rather than being directly connected to the web, the VPN user is connected via the VPN server first. Handily, it’s also possible for the VPN user to nominate whichever VPN server they wish to use internationally.

In this way, a traveller can be sitting in a public wi-fi hotspot in Himachal Pradesh, but as far as the online service being accessed is concerned, the VPN user could be in the USA or Western Europe; all dependent on the geographical needs of that user.

But before we get into talking about geo restrictions, the matter of cyber security is paramount.

Wifi hacker hotspots

It’s a clever but simple scam, whereby a hacker can sit in the corner of a public wi-fi venue area, like a shopping mall or village café. They create a personal hotspot of their own, via a laptop and portable router, using the identical name to the hotspot that already exists. Then they ensure that the password to access their bogus network is the same as the one given out by the legitimate venue.

Next, the unwitting victim buys a tea or coffee, opens their phone, and sees the wi-fi name and password on the chalkboard above the shop’s counter. But if they looked carefully at the available networks, they would see that there were two identically labelled hotspots. Immediately, there’s a 50% chance that they’re going to log on to the hacker’s bogus network.

Having fallen foul of the first part of the scam, the tourist then receives an email to the address they put into the sign-up field, offering discounts on local restaurants or whatever. The moment they click on a link to download a free voucher, that’s malware installing itself onto their device.

Once malware is present, it detects passwords, records taps and keystrokes, and relays these back to the hacker, who can wreak havoc on the person’s finances and private affairs.

But if that same tourist was using a VPN, the VPN provider’s intermediary server would detect any malware before it had a chance to even begin downloading. In fact, not only would it prevent the malware from installing itself, but it would also immediately disconnect the host device from the bogus network before any harm could be done. It’s this extra security feature that is so helpful from a VPN, giving peace of mind to the user and blocking hackers’ activities.

Streaming without frustration

The added benefit of using a VPN when travelling internationally is the ability to ‘choose’ where the VPN appears to be situated, anywhere in the world. Imagine a US citizen on vacation for the famous Ahmedabad kite festival in India. The vacationing couple might want to catch up on their favourite Netflix show from their hotel room but find that their US-based Netflix account is blocked because the internet protocol (IP) address shows the device to be in South Asia.

However, it’s only necessary for the VPN user to take two minutes to select an international server from the VPN menu. In almost no time, the VPN will access the Netflix server from an IP address in the USA. As far as Netflix can detect, the regular account is being used in North America and the couple can watch stateside TV to their hearts’ content.

Security and convenience at no cost

In summary, whenever you’re thinking of taking a trip to a different part of the world, whether you’re bird watching or on a simple beach holiday, make sure you download a VPN client onto the device you intend to take with you before you leave. This will enable you to set all parameters on the VPN server from the comfort of home, then all the security and access benefits will be available on your travels.
Stay safe out there, folks!