There is so much to see and do in the Middle East, with some countries in the region emerging as hot tourist destinations. Heck, some are already super-popular for business travelers, fancy sea resorts and religious tourism. The region has a lot to offer to all kinds of people — whether they’re looking for a sunny resort, enjoy shopping or make new business deals — there is something for everyone.
You may want to see the world’s biggest building, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, or talk to the founder of a hot startup — you can do all that in the Middle East.
But, there is also another the other side of the region, a bit darker, with many local governments employing modern technologies to limit access to the Internet. Countries such as Egypt, Iran and Saudi Arabia are known for their firewalls that prevent local populations from visiting websites like Twitter and even Facebook. They also limit access to some news websites, and that’s something you may not want to deal with on your trip.
There is a way to bypass this and other restrictions with a VPN. But that is only a part of the solution, and in this article – we want to share a few security tips that could take you a long way. It’s nothing fancy or hard to do but will make your trip that much more enjoyable. Here’s what we’ve got…
1. Get a VPN
You will need a good VPN in order to be able to bypass restrictions in many countries in the Middle East. This will not only allow you to keep up with your favorite TV shows and movies on Netflix and other streaming sites but also to access such services as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook — some of which may be blocked in the country you’re visiting.
You see, governments of some countries in the Middle East have been blocking access to parts of the Internet for quite some time, limiting what you can read, watch and listen to. The majority of the local population doesn’t mind these limitations, but those traveling to the region would like to keep access to their favorite sites and services. To make that possible, you will need a good VPN that can bypass the tech-savvy censors.
In other words, not every VPN is up for the task, and you should (obviously) get the one that will work in the Middle East. Considering that Saudi Arabia and Iran have the toughest restrictions in the region, you can get one of the services that have been proven to work there. You can check out the list of field-tested VPNs from here: Top VPNs for Saudi Arabia & Top VPNs for Iran.
2. Stay away from public Wi-Fi networks
Try avoiding public Wi-Fi networks as much as you can. If you, however, have to do that – first fire-up your VPN app and only then use a web browser (or any other app you need to use). This, BTW, should be a general rule, not just for the Middle East — but everywhere. Public Wi-Fi hotspots are ideal places for hackers to sneak into other people’s web traffic and potentially cause harm.
I am not saying that countries in the Middle East are necessarily more dangerous than other parts of the world (though some are) — it’s just that some countries in the region have rather fishy Internet-related practices. So be vary at all times.
3. Avoid accessing sensitive accounts
As you may have figured out, some governments in the Middle East are spying on their citizens and even more on those visiting the country. If you can, avoid accessing any sensitive accounts such as your online banking and other accounts related to your finances.
Or, if that’s not an option — you really have to do that — make sure your VPN app is turned on, and only then proceed to access the account you need.
Even before that, you should use strong, unique passwords for both your sensitive accounts and your VPN app. This is the part you have to do before boarding the plane. Heck, this is something you should be practicing whether you’re traveling or not.
4. Don’t carry too many devices
I’m a gadget freak I do understand when people “can’t live” without some of their devices. Nonetheless, I’m not carrying all gadgets on my travels — not just to the Middle East, but wherever I happen to go. After all, I’m visiting a foreign country to see something new, not to play with my devices more than I have to.
The main point is simple – fewer gadgets mean fewer security issues to deal with. It is much easier to take care of one computer rather than two. And the same goes for multiple phones, tablets and any other gear you may have.
This is especially important if you’re traveling for work. In fact, many companies will not let you go to some countries with your work laptop or phone, and will rather lend you special travel laptops and phones. These devices provide you with the bare minimum you need to do your work and then to be wiped clean once you return — so they could be lent to another person afterward.
5. Keep your devices with you at all times
Once you bring your devices to the Middle East, now’s the time to take good care of them. This means you should ensure their physical security by keeping them with you or at least in your sight at all times. No plugging of your smartphone into a public charging station! Also, if you need to put some USB drive into your computer, make sure your anti-virus is turned on — you don’t want some unknown software end-up being installed on your computer, after all. Heck, if you are very concerned, you can wipe your devices clean once you’re back home.
Again, this advice is applicable to many countries around the world, not just those in the Middle East. It is what we would consider a general rule of securing our devices.
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To sum it up, get a VPN, travel light and enjoy your time in the Middle East. There’s so much to see and I’m sure you’ll love the experience. 😉