Innovation and advancement in technology have changed many aspects of our lives in recent years, and from shopping to socialising, things look very different today than they did a decade ago. The entertainment landscape, too, has changed as a result of the introduction of services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Now TV revolutionising the TV and film watching experience, with more young people now choosing to stream their favourite content over watching live TV or going to the cinema.
Streaming online allows viewers to access a seemingly limitless variety of entertainment options from anywhere – whether it’s in the comfort of their own home, or while travelling. There is, however, one caveat to most streaming service memberships – many platforms will only allow you to view certain content when in the country you joined in, which can leave regular fans without their daily dose of their favourite series when spending time abroad.
Content blocks such as this are a frustrating issue for those who simply can’t live without their preferred source of entertainment, but the good news is, there is a solution. Regular travellers are increasingly turning to virtual private networks (VPNs) in order to continue accessing the full range of TV programmes and films from anywhere by masking their device’s true IP address and instead, give them one from their country of origin, allowing them to log in just as they usually would and indulge to their hearts’ content.
Reasons to use a VPN while travelling
It’s an obvious reason to invest in a VPN if you travel often – but it isn’t the only one, and doing so can also provide you with a range of other benefits that will make life easier and keep you safer while online. Here, we take a look at some of the best of them.
1. Guaranteed access to censored video content
Travelling, despite its obvious perks, can be frustrating at times, especially when you find yourself spending hours staring out the window of your plane, train or private car as you wait to reach your destination. For those with busy lifestyles and busy minds, it can often feel like a waste of precious time, so a VPN can prove to be a valuable tool in allowing you to pass it more productively – or at least, more enjoyably. As well as giving you the option to get on with some work, it also means that you can carry on watching your favourite TV series, and while away the journey engrossed in the latest drama on popular online streaming platforms like Hulu, Netflix or Amazon Prime.
A VPN is the master key that allows you to bypass geo-restrictions on blocked content on any international streaming site – so, if you want to binge-watch Hulu anywhere whilst on your travels, then you can do just that.
In fact, access to this particular platform is currently restricted in the UK, so if you’ve been looking for a way to watch it even whilst relaxing at home, then now, you can. To stream the platform’s entire video library without being blocked in any part of the world, simply invest in a stable Hulu VPN, download the corresponding application and connect it’s server to the United States. From here, you’ll be able to access the platform and start watching immediately – it’s surprising how simple the entire process is.
2. Un-encrypted use of public Wi-Fi can be extremely harmful
As mentioned, it’s not just streaming fanatics who can benefit from using a VPN while travelling, and beyond the fun side of things, it’s also an important tool to keep yourself safe online.
Often, when on the go, you’ll have little choice but to connect to the nearest public Wi-Fi hotspot to get online – but doing so can put you and your data at a higher level of risk than most people realise. Public networks like these are unencrypted, and thus vulnerable to hackers, who may tap into them to access your personal or financial information or sensitive company data while you work.
Unfortunately, most of us never consider how to protect our privacy while using public Wi-Fi because, in most cases, the priority when arriving at a hotel, restaurant or other public space is simply to get logged on as quickly as possible. But the truth is, it isn’t worth the risk you take each time you connect, and having a VPN can give you added peace of mind so that you can continue to use public networks, worry free.
Allowing users to maintain a solid and secure layer between their devices and the internet so that they can complete online activities in an encrypted manner – all when using an open Wi-Fi connection from anywhere in the world, they’re a bit of a no brainer. And best of all, they only cost a few pounds and a couple of minutes to set up.
So, if you regularly use hotel, coffee shop, or public Wi-Fi connections for working online, handling your finances on the go and streaming your favourite entertainment, then it’s a quick and easy investment that could save you a fortune – and a whole lot of stress – in the meantime.
3. Social sharing
Travelling the world provides a whole host of opportunities to see incredible sights and take in memorable moments – but in this digital age, if you didn’t share evidence of it across your social media channels then it may seem like you haven’t fully embraced the potential of your trip.
Note that if you’re visiting a country like Uganda, where a social media tax has been implemented, you will have to pay an additional cost to use such sites and applications, while in China, the rules are equally rigorous to the point that the government has banned the use of Facebook and Twitter entirely.
In instances such as this, VPNs can come in handy as smart tools with which to bypass restrictions on such social sites – although it’s important to note that you’ll be doing so at your own risk.
4. Streamers avail discounted flight fares through a VPN
Because a VPN makes for an excellent geo-spoofing tool that masks your true location by changing your online IP addresses and allowing you to access the internet from any country you like, it also provides some other handy benefits you might not have considered.
By allowing you to appear online from a location of your choice, this can mean that you’re able to access cheaper flight prices than you might otherwise be privy to by using flight comparison services that focus on your region of choice. The benefit of using these resources is that they provide great savings for purchasing and reserving your First Class and Business Class tickets from a specific region – because let’s face it, we’d all rather save some money for Champagne.
5. Streamers stay safe from prying actions
None of us are exactly enamoured with the idea of the government or any other third party accessing and gathering our online data and keeping track of our online surfing history. Stolen personal data from digital users is an exceedingly immoral crime and continuously surges, yet still, some jurisdictions have rules in place to ensure that such reports can be kept.
It’s another scenario where technologies like VPNs and proxies come into play by ensuring a strong zero-logging policy that prevents any person, government, or third-party agency from accessing a users’ data and thus, providing you with that all-important online privacy.
Online workers, social media users and streamers are becoming accustomed to using VPNs that ensure they are safe from prying eyes by creating a strong military-grade encryption to their online traffic, and it’s easy to see why. Keeping them safe from online theft, spying activities, and misuse of their personal and professional data, the only real question is, why wouldn’t you?
The bottom line
Connecting to a public Wi-Fi network for streaming, working or any other purpose while travelling can leave you vulnerable to all manner of sophisticated cyber-attacks if you don’t have a VPN in place. So, to safeguard your online browsing devices from any harmful effects, consider investing in one sooner, rather than later.
