VPNs and Digital Nomads: When going online, protecting personal data is the most important of priorities. Beyond that, defending one’s virtual identity and bank account details from snoopers is the second most important. Especially for those who have chosen a digital life, finding laptops and smartphones as their two main tools. It is, therefore, easy to understand that if everyone must be careful not to leave certain traces online, spending so many hours connected every day, digital nomads and remote workers must multiply their efforts to avoid nasty surprises.
An effective solution to stay safe can be a Virtual Private Network because a VPN encrypts the data transmitted from your devices to the servers you connect to. This way, sensitive data and financial information cannot fall into the hands of hackers, even if you use Wi-Fi networks or hotspots, as long as one makes sure that one’s own devices are also protected, which can be attacked by malware if one does not use antivirus software.
How to choose a reliable VPN
In order to secure an effective VPN for smart working, certain conditions must be taken into account, which are primary needs for those who work with laptops. The first necessity is global coverage, so you need a provider with servers available in more than one country, particularly those you may intend to visit. Another priority is internet speed, although compared to the past, many providers now guarantee an excellent standard of connection speed precisely because with a high number of servers, overcrowding and, thus, connection slowdowns are avoided. There is nothing worse to ruin your day!
Also important to work with is the number of devices supported by a VPN, with a minimum threshold of five devices, so that at least phones, laptops and tablets can be connected. Another relevant factor is the automatic kill switch functionality, which, in the event that the VPN interrupts the data flow, allows you to disconnect to avoid remaining online without protection (this should never happen). To remedy such cases, I recommend choosing a VPN with good customer service, always available and ready to solve problems.
Why digital nomads use VPNs
To better understand whether and how digital nomads use a VPN, I asked Federico Felici, a social media manager and web writer who has been living as a digital nomad for over two years, a few questions. He is from Rome and, after living in Portugal and Spain, has become a serial traveller, returning to the Italian capital now and then. Here is what Federico thinks about VPN.
Do you use or have you ever used a VPN?
Yes, of course. I have been using them for years for various reasons.
When and for what reasons did you use it?
I first installed it when I was travelling to get to certain content, but over time, I also used it for work because of blocking certain sites, which only worked when connected from Italy. Today, it is a tool I just can’t give up.
Is paying a subscription fair and convenient to ensure the advantages a VPN guarantees?
Given the many advantages it guarantees, I have no doubts about this and say yes to the subscription, finding the best way between the rates and one’s own needs.
Would you recommend the use of a VPN to other digital nomads?
Absolutely, it has become an essential tool for many people, especially for digital nomads.
What is/is the best VPN, in your opinion?
On this, I can say little because I started with NordVPN and have never changed, as everything works perfectly. For this reason, I can only recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable VPN.
CyberGhost is the alternative for those who want a secure and effective VPN
CyberGhost works well and, with its intuitive configuration, is ideal for those who have never used a VPN before. Its strength is having a vast network of servers, more than 9670 spread over 90 countries. These are numbers that few providers can boast. Founded in 2011 in Bucharest, Romania, it combines security and reliability, guaranteeing an encrypted connection and anonymity to users who use it to surf the net.
It has more than 40 million users globally, and the company considers privacy a fundamental right, so much so that it publishes a transparency report. It uses a security system with 256-bit encryption, does not store user identification data and has an average download speed of 548 Mbps, with rare slowdowns. CyberGhost has Mac, iPhone, Android, Android TV, Windows, and Linux apps and a function for installation on Smart TV, Xbox and PlayStation. It allows up to 7 devices to be connected simultaneously with a subscription, which costs €11.99 for a single month, €6.99 every 30 days in the case of a 6-month subscription and only €2.19 for those who decide to subscribe for 24 months. It’s too easy to add that the latter is the option I most recommend for a reliable service.
