Surf the Web Safely on Vacation: How to Connect to Free Wi-Fi While Protecting Your Information

Getting online while traveling can be tricky and even risky. Protect yourself from hackers and information sniffing by using these tips.

During holidays, we are not exempt from the need to use the Internet, even if our main objective is to rest. This is why in hotels, bars, restaurants, and other tourist sites you will usually find free WiFi networks to which you can connect. Although it is an appreciated gesture as a tourist, the truth is that most of these public networks do not have adequate security measures to protect you from hacking or theft of information.

This doesn't mean that you should never connect to Wi-Fi networks when you travel, as it is often simply indispensable. What you can do is follow some basic security measures to surf the Internet without worry. Here are some tips you can apply.

If basic protection is not adequate, you should not even connect to the Internet with your mobile phone, tablet, or laptop, especially not at a hotspot. Basic protection primarily means keeping all software updates up to date and, in the case of Windows, good antivirus protection.

• The best way to get updates for Windows, Android, and iOS is by going to Settings.
• Usually, you'll find the option to Check for Updates in the welcome panel, or the operating system itself will show you notifications if one is available.
• Also, restarting your device can bring it up to date.

• On the other hand, having an antivirus that is also kept up to date will be essential to protect you in case you browse sites that are not entirely safe or decide to download files, two particularly dangerous actions that can infect your computer or your cell phone with some type of malware.
• If your access point is a public network, especially free internet in cities or airports, it's best to hide your information as much as possible. A VPN is the best option because it allows you to create an encrypted tunnel for your data and hide information related to your IP address. There are paid versions and others with a free trial, like Proton VPN Free, Norton, Kaspersky, or ay other well-known antivirus provider. 

Keep yourself and your data safe even when traveling!