The desire to travel has not slowed down. In 2023, international tourist arrivals reached 1.3 billion, an impressive number compared to the previous three years. Even more travelers are expected in 2024, and the number of international tourists could match the amount seen in 2019. Easier travel processes and looser restrictions have made booking a flight somewhere new much more straightforward. A social shift in travel brought about in the past few years is also playing a role in the growth of the tourism industry. Nowadays, people are willing to make travel plans without waiting for a special occasion and spend more on experiences and activities to satisfy the itch to get out of town. Technology has also made it incredibly easy for people to travel. Apps and search engines make planning trips easier by giving tourists crucial information and the best deals, while booking apps and websites enable people to buy flight tickets and reserve accommodation online. Smartphones and tablets make it easier to keep in touch with others or do work on the way or at your destination. With all your essentials for work, documentation, and entertainment downloaded onto one or two devices, you can easily pack light.
However, with a boom in technology also comes threats to your cybersecurity. Even if you're doing something as harmless as streaming content from your smart TV, your sensitive information and activity can be compromised. A reliable and secure virtual private network (VPN) for smart TVs can keep your details secure and private while also improving your entertainment options while abroad. Here's what you need to know about smart TV VPNs and how they can improve your travel experience:
What Is a VPN?
A VPN is a service that creates a secure and private connection between your device and the internet. It makes online activity more difficult for outside parties to track and monitor, such as an internet service provider (ISP), the websites you visit, and even hackers and cybercriminals on public Wi-Fi networks. It does this through various functions. It encrypts your traffic and routes it through a remote service operated by the VPN provider. A VPN also hides your actual IP address, which can mask your location and online identity for increased security and privacy. If you're on a public Wi-Fi network, the VPN encrypts your data while connected.
Why a VPN for Travel Is Crucial
When traveling, settings, networks, and security measures can be unfamiliar and disrupted. You may be familiar with any cybersecurity threats at home and have taken appropriate measures to counter them. Still, a new place brings new opportunities for your information to be compromised. If you run into an issue abroad, getting the help you need in a foreign country and away from the protocols you know becomes much more challenging. A VPN can give you peace of mind when you're on a trip, protecting your data while traveling. Encrypting your details and activity can keep away prying eyes and malicious actors. Some countries may also have strict website or content restrictions and censorship, making accessing the content you need or love difficult. With a VPN, You don't have to be restricted to your destination's sites and content. This is especially true when you're using a smart TV. After a long day of sightseeing and thrilling activities during your trip, it's nice to get back to your hotel or accommodation, unwind with a movie or show you love, and not worry about privacy or lack of content.
Here's a closer look into the benefits of smart TV VPNs:
Privacy
Traveling exposes you to various unfamiliar technology aspects, including internet providers, hacking schemes, and even government monitoring. These issues can be a source of worry since you might not know how to equip yourselves against prying eyes. One of the main perks of a VPN is the privacy it offers, whether you are working while abroad or just using the internet for entertainment. Since it hides your IP address, using a private VPN on a smart TV that has apps like Apple TV will ensure that third parties monitoring your connection will no longer be able to tell what you do online. Even your destination's government agencies can be deterred by a VPN so that they won't track any traffic. With a smart TV VPN, you can browse movies and shows in peace, knowing nobody is snooping on your activity.
Security
Connecting to public Wi-Fi networks is easy when you're abroad, and it's often something you don't think twice about. When you've spent the day navigating the airport or a new city, the last thing you want to do is think too hard about connectivity on your smart TV when you're at your hotel room or Airbnb. However, being too lenient about managing vulnerabilities on a public Wi-Fi network can increase your risk of your data being compromised or stolen. It can put your sensitive information at risk and throw a wrench in your travel plans. With encrypted data from the VPN, you won't have to worry about cyber threats when using a smart TV. Hackers are only becoming increasingly sophisticated with their scams and methods of stealing information, but the VPN can prevent them from accessing your data. You can also amp up security further by using multifactor authentication to keep your smart TV and other devices locked while traveling. Whether you're keeping your smart TV at home safe or using one at your accommodation, you'll be notified if someone is trying to get into your account.
Bypassing Geo-Restrictions
Some countries may have strict censorship regarding certain content or websites, making it harder to watch the entertainment you enjoy. Even if there are a few restrictions, the country you're in may not have something you want to watch on the local versions of popular streaming sites like Netflix, Prime Video, or other streaming sites on the smart TV. A VPN allows you to bypass these geo-restrictions and access content outside your destination. If you've been meaning to watch the latest episode of a show you have been following, but it isn't available in the country you're in, you can switch to one of the VPN servers in your home country and access what's available there. You can also explore the selections available in different places where the VPN provider has servers, giving you more options to explore or offer you what you know and love. You won't have to miss the new episode of your favorite show or worry about spoilers when traveling!
How to Use a Smart TV VPN When Traveling Abroad
There are many ways you can set up and use a VPN for a smart TV when you're traveling. The easiest method is downloading the VPN app directly onto the TV and logging into your account. This is a great way to secure your smart TV at home, but if you'd rather not download an app on a smart TV that isn't yours, you can also share a VPN connection via a mobile hotspot such as through your laptop. If you're more concerned about the content or streaming platforms you want to use, setting up a SmartDNS is one of the best ways to access geo-restricted content while traveling. This helps you avoid triggering automatic protection systems on sites that may flag access from different IPs as suspicious and bypass geo-blocked services and sites. It also won't heavily affect your internet speed, so you can enjoy watching without too many loading screens and long buffering times.
Traveling can be an exciting adventure and a means to escape daily life's hustle and bustle. When you're exploring a new place, you shouldn't have to be constantly worried about your security and privacy, especially regarding your information and online activity. VPNs are no longer an additional perk or consideration for traveling; they're quickly emerging as an essential for tourists to keep themselves safe while abroad. A smart TV may not be high on the list of devices you want to protect, but the extra precaution can be worth it. Avoid the headache and keep yourself safe while on vacation or business trips with a smart TV VPN.