Online learning has become the new norm. However, the trend of studying while traveling is gaining momentum among students, and it makes total sense why: if your current location lacks excitement, there’s a quick solution to fix this. You can hop on a plane, and the next day, you’re having great adventures while still being a responsible student who takes their learning seriously.
But when studying remotely while traveling the world, it’s essential to remember your security and ways of accessing educational content. Because even if it may seem unlikely, cybercriminals love targeting the educational sector. So, anyone interacting with an institution’s website or learning materials is susceptible to a cyberattack.
This article explains why online safety while traveling is crucial and how to avoid cyberattacks when accessing educational materials.
Why Online Safety While Traveling is Important
Sure, every student would be delighted to board a plane or bus and explore the world without any concerns about their online security or the way they access study material. Unfortunately, this isn’t the world we live in. So, you must know how to access educational content without compromising your institution’s or your own privacy.
Most of the time, the educational sector experiences social engineering attacks that happen when students are tricked by phishing attacks, malware, or other malicious threats. However, a whole different set of attacks can occur when a student is traveling. These attacks typically happen due to unsafe online browsing, such as using public Wi-Fi that hackers are spying on.
Thankfully, you can protect yourself by utilizing various tools and software.
Turn on a VPN
When you arrive at the airport to wait for your flight or get to your hotel room, it’s tempting to connect to the nearest public Wi-Fi to send a few messages to your classmates or check if new learning material has been added. If you’re planning to study while traveling abroad, you need a stable internet connection to work on your educational projects. Sadly, using a public network places your information and devices at risk.
A VPN, or virtual private network, can help with this problem. If you’ve ever wondered how to change IP address of your laptop or phone to browse the web, simply turn on a VPN. This way you’ll hide your real IP address with a different one and shield any data that leaves your device. This way, even if you choose to use public Wi-Fi, a VPN will make you invisible to cybercriminals.
Utilize eSIMs
There’s another way you can access secure and cheap internet, and that’s an eSIM. A mobile internet connection is one of the most secure options to use when you’re not at home. With an eSIM, you can be sure you’ll have internet access, whether or not there’s free Wi-Fi nearby. The best part is that it can be used worldwide. So, whether you’re looking for Mexico, France, or even Thailand eSIM options, you’ll almost always be able to find one.
The most important thing you have to do when choosing an eSIM is to pick the right data plan. This is because you don’t want to spend money on data that you will either be out of in a few days or will keep unused throughout the whole trip. So, when you choose the plan that suits you, activate a mobile hotspot and connect your laptop or tablet. This way, you’ll be able to access all educational material on your laptop without risking cybercriminals catching on to what you’re doing online.
Adopt Safe Browsing Practices
In addition to security tools, you should know and adopt general safe browsing practices. First of all, always update your web browser. Not only does it help you enjoy the newest features, but also updates fresh security measures and threat protection.
Secondly, when looking for study materials, make sure you’re only visiting secure web pages with HTTPS in the URL bar. The URL bar should also have a padlock icon next to the address. Websites with these features encrypt your information and thus protect it from criminals. If you’re unsure if a certain site is secure, stick to trusted resources.
Backup Your Files
Imagine if someone got their hands on your laptop and stole or wiped everything in it clean. All your research, files, and assignments would be gone in a second. To prevent this, back up everything important on a separate hard drive before you leave your belongings. So, even if your data gets compromised, you will still have it by your side.
You can also store data on a cloud drive, which some may prefer. This way, you can connect your device to a cloud drive and sync all the files online. You can even log in and access your data from other devices as long as you have an internet connection. As a student who spends a lot of time on your projects, you will have peace of mind after backing up your files.
Stay Safe While Connected
Studying and traveling the world feels freeing—you’re no longer tied to one city while receiving a degree. However, you shouldn’t forget to stay cautious online. Whenever you access educational material, make sure your network connection is secure and that important files are backed up. Only then can you be sure that no careless actions were made when accessing your files.
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