Moving abroad is a thrilling adventure and a great opportunity but it can also be a challenge staying in touch with home while navigating foreign internet systems. Planning ahead and being aware of how things work is the key to staying safely and reliably connected wherever you end up.
- figuring out your options – from buying a local SIM to keeping your home subscription on
Getting online when you’re abroad is no easy task. You’ve got a few different options to choose from, each with its own pros and cons. Using a local SIM card can be the cheapest way to get online, but you need a phone that can be unlocked and it can be tough to buy a SIM from a foreign store. Portable hotspots are super flexible and will let you connect lots of devices at once, but they can be pricey and use up your data allowance really fast. If you stick with your own carrier it can be easy and you know who to turn to if anything goes wrong, but it’s not going to be cheap. The Irish Commission for Communications Regulation is pretty clear: if you know how the local telephone system works before you get there you can avoid making some costly mistakes. Public Wi-Fi is everywhere but its security is always a risk that needs to be taken seriously, as we’ll discuss later on. Do your research, compare all the options and weigh up the costs before signing up to a long term deal – switching providers in a foreign country can be a real pain and not cheap either.
- Protect your data: Why security is a big deal when your abroad
Staying connected in foreign countries often means using internet connections you don’t know much about – like the Wi-Fi at a friends place, the Wi-Fi in a cafe or shop, or the internet in your apartment block – and often these connections are not secure. They may have been set up badly or be being watched, and all that means is your personal details, your financial info and your private messages can all be intercepted. Experts reckon a pretty large percentage of people who travel abroad experience some kind of cyber threat and it’s the public connections that they mostly get hit with. So what do you do to keep yourself safe ? Use strong, unique passwords for every account you have; make sure your laptop and phone get encrypted; lock your screen with a password; make sure to back up your important stuff to the cloud; and steer clear of dodgy websites and apps. Its all pretty simple stuff but can make all the difference when you’re connecting to a dodgy network.
- Use a VPN – Or Even a VPN Chrome Extension – to Protect Your Online Privacy & Get Around Geo-Blocked Websites
Virtual Private Networks do a great deal to keep your internet traffic safe by encrypting it and hiding your real IP address – which is a must when accessing sensitive services like online banking, email or personal accounts in foreign countries. They essentially shield you from network operators or any other malicious types trying to snoop on you, just by creating a secure pipeline from your device to the web. For example, a VPN Chrome extension will give you some solid protection when you’re stuck using a public or untrusted WiFi network – especially useful when you need to check up on news, watch your favorite streaming services, or do some banking from back home, which may well be blocked by geo-restrictions where you’re currently staying. And with a browser-based extension you don’t have to bother setting up anything complicated – making them a perfect solution if you’re using a shared computer or one at work.
- Be Prepared for the Internet Rules, Censorship and Laws That Apply in Your Host Country
Some countries block certain internet content, shut down social media, throttle VPN connections, or even spy on foreign services, which can stop you accessing the sites and communication tools you rely on back home. So do your homework on the local internet laws and regulations before using tools like VPNs, as the consequences can be serious and vary from one country to the other. You should also think about alternative messaging apps, secure email services and local equivalents of the services you need if your preferred ones aren’t available.
Expat life online is a whole lot easier when you know your options for staying online, put security first, and also keep an eye on local rules while still being able to keep in touch with home.
