All you know about

All you know about - VPNs for traveling

on the first Tuesday Thursday of each month, Dave Dean of Too Many adapter gives us good tips and travel advice tech and gear. In this month, he delves deeply into VPNs, what they are and why they are important.

Computer Security always seems to be in the news, whether it's revelations of government spying to track stolen credit card numbers, enormous data breaches or even the ease of an NPR reporter digital life.

As Internet with travelers, they are often risking security problems. Instead of your password-protected network at home or work, they are often by public or semi-public wifi (airports, stations, cafes and hotels fall into this category) or, worse, shared computers.

Who on the same network (which could be in some cases thousands of people) can access your data unencrypted easily when it flies through the air. Usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, browser cookies, and other information can ripe for picking from your web browser and mobile applications be (I spoke at length about this issue here). A VPN (Virtual Private Network) protects you from all this with a single click.

VPNs They also allow to get around internet filtering. I have come across sites blocked in Vietnam, Spain, Portugal, China, Thailand, and many others. Just connect your VPN to a country that does not have you not blocked by the site, and the problem disappears. I have used this method to blocked messages from Chiang Mai, watch Vimeo videos in Bali, update my Facebook status in Hanoi, and visit to read the About Ride-sharing site, to stay at while in Porto. Additionally, you can use it to access blocked content such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO and BBC, while overseas.

How VPNs work?

VPNs were originally created for business use, but it was not long before consumer versions appear, started from dozens of different companies. After all, security for all, whether they have an expense account or did not get.

In order to understand how they work, think of the Internet as a river. Leave a load of dye into the river - that's your (unencrypted) data. Who can stand on the riverbank that see dye: which color and consistency it is and where it ends

Now, put a small tube into the river, running from wherever you are somewhere along its length. and your dye tilt in the place. Until it emerges from the end of the line, no one on the bench can see the dye or it knows nothing. Your VPN is that pipe

With them is easy -. You download and install a VPN app for your smartphone, tablet or laptop, then start after you have connected to the Internet. Select the server (or "endpoint") that you want to use - good VPN applications offer several different locations -. And after a few seconds, all your data will be encrypted and all your internet traffic will be protected by the virtual network

VPNs typically developed independently of its kind. These include e-mail, music streaming and video, voice calls, and everything you can imagine.

In recent years, proxy services from browsers like Hola and Zenmate also appeared that only protect Web-based traffic. They are usually free and easy to use, but for most travelers, there is little reason to choose it, but not a true VPN. They offer less security, and at least one of them (Hola) was caught to do with his user connections some pretty shady stuff.

What should I look for in a VPN service?

With so many different VPN providers and plans, it is not so easy for your needs is the best one to find out. , These are the characteristics that has the most important

• apps for the platforms that you use - Make sure that all the devices that you will take with you supported. If you use a Mac and an iPhone with you, look for MacOS and iOS versions of VPN software. Alternatively, if you use Windows and Android, make sure that you will be able to download applications for the
• No restrictions or extra fees for concurrent connections -. Restricting the number of devices at the same time your VPN account is using annoying. Mobile phones, tablets and laptops are equally at risk insecure networks, and you do not want to separate and to connect another every time you want to use them. Look for a service that you connect multiple devices simultaneously
• works in as many countries as possible -. Not all VPN software is the same, and some types are easier to block than others. Search to work in China in the last months of support for the OpenVPN protocol and comments that mention an ability - the government is probably the best blocking VPNs, so if it works there, it will work anywhere
.
• acceptable speeds - typically the connection slow with a VPN, because your data will be mainly through another server and not directly to their destination. How much it increases depends on all sorts of factors, including the distance, bandwidth limitations and congested networks. As an example, my speed in Spain declined by about 20% when a VPN endpoint in Madrid, and 40%, if one with in New York. Try using a trial version of each VPN to pay before it, and run speed tests to see how quickly or slowly it is really
• Contains an Auto Connect feature -. only protect VPNs, if you use them. It sounds obvious, but it is an easy thing to forget when you are in a hurry. Look for an auto connect function, either for each network or at least unsecured ones. Check your VPN within seconds enable a connection to a Wi-Fi network, you keep yourself protected, when you have other things to think about.
• Has endpoints, where you need them, and as many as possible - The more endpoints has a VPN service, the better. Occasionally, one particular endpoint through a site blocks the attempt to start - if you have others to choose, it is nothing more than a minor inconvenience. This happened to me recently when trying to watch a video on Hulu: the New York was blocked endpoint, but the Chicago one worked well
• Easy to install and use - The best Software. in the world is not much if it is hard to use or install, and VPNs are no exception. On Mac and Windows, this would mean, just download and run the installer from the company's website. On Android and iOS, you access it from the App Store or Play. If you did not register in advance for an account, you are asked to do during the installation. Maybe you have to ask a few questions about how you want the VPN to use (either automatically or manually, and perhaps what kind of connection it should do), but the default options are generally good.

With him should not weigh more -. either to bring the software will automatically connect when you set it this way, or no longer needed as a few clicks or taps it in gear

Unfortunately, not every company makes these easy it. Setting mobile VPN applications, in particular can sometimes be surprisingly difficult. Read reviews, and install trial versions where possible to ensure that the service is user-friendly enough to keep using it.

The best VPN services

make the first decision you need to whether to go for a free or paid option. Free VPNs are in general as a way to get you to upgrade to the paid version, and they come with one or more of the following limitations: bandwidth and speed restrictions, advertising, less endpoints, time limits and busy (read: slow) Server if.

try if you need a VPN to decide, or do you think it now be used initially and then the free services offered. The prestigious options include Tunnel Bear, CyberGhost and proXPN. Hotspot Shield is also very popular, although it can be slow. They all have limitations, but a few dollars a month upgrades you to pay the full version.

Paid services to remove all restrictions mentioned above. Some of the better VPN applications are not in a free or trial basis, although they all offer at least one month subscription. Good options include Hide My Ass, WiTopia, Astrill and Private Internet Access, as well as the full versions of the free services above.

How you use your VPN

If you have chosen a VPN service, here are a few things to consider:

• do not forget to use it (or turn on the auto Connect option mentioned earlier)! Yes, this includes when using Wi-Fi on your phone or tablet, with any hostel, airport or other public or semi-public network -. Especially anything that requires additional security, such as banking, online shopping, or email
• Use around for better rates if you can. If you need to connect to a particular country, not an end point near you use instead.
• Realize that as a traveler, there are times when the connection is too slow to use a VPN. If your connection is terribly slow to start with, you can not even connect VPN, or be unusable if it works. to limit in such cases, what you online, to do things that do not require a high level of security.
• If you have an unreliable Internet connection, then make sure that your VPN will remain active. If your Wi-Fi fails, or the internet stops working, your VPN is separate - and it is not always automatically back up again. Keep an eye on the app's icon in your task or notification bar and close, if you do not see it.
• Finally, understand that most VPNs to provide security, not anonymity. They are everywhere protected against hackers and other malicious people between you and the VPN endpoint you use - but most companies do VPN to log on to the sites and services that connect you, along with your account and credit card information. In such cases, especially if it is based-are US, these details for prosecution in certain situations can be provided. Long story short: you do nothing stupid

Although VPNs are not nearly as exciting as, well, almost every other aspect of your travels, they are a cheap, simple way. protect online even with the Kardashians (and every other TV show you like) hold, and to bypass the Governments that want your Internet use to monitor and block. They still are an indispensable part of my digital travel Toolkit been one that I use on the road every day, and I would simply not complete without a trip.

I would strongly suggest you do not either.

Dave runs too many adapters, a website dedicated to technology for travelers. An outsider, as long as he can remember, he was for 15 years in the IT. Now based out of a backpack long Dave writes about traveling and Tech from anywhere with halfway decent internet and great views. You can also use it on the life of a find in long-term travelers conversation What to do Dave?

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