Living abroad can be an adventure, but it also comes with its challenges. For start, it will no longer be the internet you got accustomed to with some of the most popular services appearing beyond your reach.
There are multiple reasons why this is the case, and in this article – we explore the most common reasons. For start, you should know there is a tool that could help you regain the “regular” Internet experience you love – it’s called VPN and it stands for “Virtual Private Network.” A VPN lets you connect to servers all around the world to unblock geo-restricted content while browsing the web more securely.
But I’m getting ahead of myself, here are 4 reasons why expats should use a VPN:
1. Unrestricted access to social media
Most people in the West take access to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for granted. However, those websites are not available throughout the world with some countries blocking access to these sites as well as some other services (like Skype).
As an expat, you still want to keep up with your friends on Facebook and the people you follow on Twitter. And the same goes for YouTube — you may be subscribed to some channels and visiting high-censorship countries will prevent you from keeping up with them.
Getting a good VPN could help you bypass any restrictions imposed by foreign governments.
2. Unrestricted access to content
Related to the previous point but not necessarily related to high-censorship countries. Sure, they too could block access to some websites and services, but it could also be content providers that block or limit access to users in select countries.
You can blame content providers if you want to, but that has little to do with them and everything to do with how content is bought and sold on the market. For instance, Sky may have exclusive rights for some popular American TV show in the UK, and the only way to get it is by watching Sky.
Or you could get a VPN and make your computer “act” like it is in the United States and access all the content you want, with no restrictions of any kind.
Just one more thing about content restrictions, you don’t even have to travel to foreign countries in order to face these restrictions — some workplaces and schools prevent their constituents from accessing sites like Facebook and YouTube to keep them more focused on the “work at hand.” Here too, a VPN could help you bypass these restrictions.
3. Watch sports
And another related item… With a VPN, you can watch sports “as it happens” because you will be able to tune into channels you got accustomed to.
Again, major networks that own the rights to various sports events sell those rights to networks in other countries and in order to watch — you have to pay again (this time to a local network which bought those rights for the local market). With a VPN, you can connect directly to the source and enjoy the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet or even a connected smart TV.
4. Secure access to financial services
When you’re not connecting from your home network — and perhaps even then — you’ll want to access web-based financial services such as online banking through a secure connection. Many hackers are spending their days in places with open WiFi hotspots waiting for suckers to access their online banking accounts. With a VPN, you won’t be a sucker and could safely access all of your accounts knowing that hackers can’t do a thing regarding your connection.
The VPN app running on your computer (and phone) encrypts all data coming to and from your computer, making it impossible for prying eyes to get any meaningful information from your web whereabouts.
Final word
If you’re an expat who wants to keep using the Internet like he/she never left the U.S. – you will want to get yourself a VPN. It will not only provide you with more secure web browsing but will also unblock all the content that would otherwise be outside of your reach. Plus, let’s not forget the extra anonymity a good VPN delivers — there is no good reason for anyone to know what you’re doing online. Privacy is a human right after all, and you deserve it.
Start by checking our list of Top 5 VPNs which has the top field-tested services, all of which will “get the job done.” For the best experience though, get a VPN at the top of the list and forget about it. Let it do its magic in the background as you safely browse the web, watch movies and TV shows, and so on.