Staying safe while on the road: essential travel hacks for digital nomads
If you're a digital nomad, you probably travel a lot. It's not hard to see why: there are so many incredible places in the world! But traveling can be dangerous. That's why it's important to stay safe while exploring new places. Here are some essential travel hacks that I use when I'm on the road:
Don't use public WiFi
Don't use public WiFi.
If you're using a public WiFi, it's easy for someone to access your data.
Use cellular data instead of public WiFis when possible--it's more secure and less expensive! You can also use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to encrypt the information being sent over the internet, but this only works if you're using cellular data rather than a public network.
Make two-factor authentication your default
Two-factor authentication is a security measure that requires two pieces of information to log in to an account. It's a way to make sure that only you can access your account and not someone who has stolen your password.
The most common form of two-factor authentication is by text message, but there are other options available such as an app or phone call. If you use Google, Facebook or Twitter then they will likely have already enabled two-factor authentication on their accounts by default as they're keenly aware how important it is for protecting user data from hackers (and government surveillance).
To set up two-factor authentication:
Go into your Settings menu
Select "Accounts & privacy" (or similar)
Under the "Security" section select "Two-step verification" (or similar)
Once enabled on all sites where available (which should be all major services) here's how it works:
Turn on iOS Find My iPhone
Find My iPhone is the best way to find your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch if it's ever lost or stolen. If you've turned on Find My iPhone and activated its location services (which are required for Find My iPhone), then you can use iCloud.com to see the location of your device on a map in real time. You can also choose whether to display an alert when someone changes the location of your device--this is useful if you're planning on giving away or selling an old phone but want to make sure no one uses it after that point in time!
Use a VPN when browsing the web
The VPN is one of the most important tools for digital nomads to stay safe while on the road. A VPN encrypts your data so that it can't be intercepted by third parties, and it also hides your IP address so that you can't be tracked. This means that if someone were trying to hack into your computer when you're connected to public WiFi at an airport or café, they wouldn't have any luck--the information they need won't be available because all of it is being encrypted by the VPN service!
VPNs also allow you to access content that might otherwise be blocked in certain countries--like Netflix US from within China, where Netflix has been banned since last year (but still exists through various workarounds).
There are many different services out there offering VPNs; I personally use ExpressVPN because it offers fast speeds without compromising security features like kill switches (which disconnects internet access automatically when something goes wrong). You'll want something similar if possible; just make sure whatever software you choose supports OpenVPN protocol!
Lock your device when you aren't using it
When you're out and about, it's important to lock your device when you aren't using it. Don't leave it unattended or on the table in a public place. Don't leave it on the table at a restaurant or hotel room either!
As a digital nomad, you'll often be traveling between places where there are lots of other people around: restaurants, bars, cafes... It's easy for someone to grab your phone off the table if they see their opportunity and take advantage of that momentary lapse in attention or carelessness on your part (or even just plain bad luck).
Use an encrypted messaging app and file sharing app, such as Signal and SpiderOakONE.
Encrypted messaging apps like Signal and Telegram allow you to send messages that are encrypted and therefore unreadable by anyone except the sender and receiver. They can also be used to make calls, which is convenient when you're on the road and don't want to use up expensive data roaming charges.
File sharing apps like SpiderOakONE let you store files in the cloud so that they are accessible anywhere--including when traveling abroad where you may not have internet access at all times or high-speed connections available in every country.
Staying safe while traveling can be hard but digital nomads have some great tools to help.
The digital nomad lifestyle is growing in popularity and has become a hot topic. But, with this growth comes an increased risk to your personal information and assets. Digital nomads can't always be there to protect their computers when traveling across borders or using public WiFi.
There are many tools that will help keep you safe while traveling the world and working online
There's no doubt that traveling can be a lot of fun, but it can also be dangerous. Luckily, there are plenty of ways for digital nomads to stay safe while on the road. From using two-factor authentication and VPNs to encrypting your files and messages, these tips will help ensure that no matter where your next adventure takes you--whether it's across town or across oceans--you'll always be prepared for anything!
