5 moments when you’ll be glad you have a VPN this holiday season

You’re in the airport security line, one eye on your boarding pass and the other on a Black Friday deal that expires in ten minutes. The airport Wi-Fi is right there, free and fast. Do you trust it with your card details?

The last months of the year change how we use the internet: more shopping, more travel, more unfamiliar networks, more streaming. A VPN can help in all of these, and the best time to switch it on is before you realize you need it.

Key takeaways

• A VPN encrypts the traffic between your device and the VPN server. That adds a layer of protection on public or unfamiliar Wi-Fi, on top of the HTTPS most sites already use.
• Connecting through servers in different locations lets you compare prices and offers from different places, but it doesn’t guarantee a cheaper deal.
• A VPN can help you reach your usual services while you’re away from home, although streaming availability and service rules vary.
• A VPN hides the sites you visit from your ISP and the network you’re on. It doesn’t make you anonymous, and you shift some trust to the VPN provider.
• Auto-connect keeps you protected without having to remember to turn the VPN on every time.

5 times a VPN can come in handy this holiday season

1. When you’re hunting for deals and comparing prices

Halloween costumes are barely packed away before Black Friday offers start appearing everywhere. Then come Cyber Monday, Christmas gifts, flights home and hotels for New Year’s Eve, and you may wonder whether you’re seeing the same prices as everyone else.

When you connect to a VPN, websites see the IP address of the VPN server instead of yours. You can choose a server in another location and see how a site appears from there, which is a handy extra check when comparing flights, hotels or online purchases.

It won’t automatically get you a lower price, though. Sites also use cookies, your device and your browsing history to personalize offers. For a fair comparison, check the same item in a private browsing window as well, with and without the VPN.

2. When you’re traveling and connecting wherever you can

Over the holidays you’ll likely join more Wi-Fi networks than usual: at the airport, in a hotel or holiday rental, at a café, at the relatives’ place. Some are public. Others simply aren’t yours.

That also covers the quick, sensitive checks. Your bank balance while you’re out Christmas shopping, a payment that didn’t go through, a booking you suddenly have to change.

Most websites now encrypt your connection with HTTPS, which is good. A VPN adds another layer: it encrypts all the traffic leaving your device, so the network can’t see which sites you visit, and it helps protect you if you accidentally join a fake hotspot set up to look like the real one. It’s not a substitute for good habits, so keep using legitimate sites and secure payment methods.

Set your VPN to connect automatically on public or unsecured Wi-Fi and you don’t have to think about it each time you change networks.

3. When you want to watch something that isn’t available where you are

Maybe Halloween means the same horror movie every year, or Christmas means showing your kids the film you grew up with. Or you’re visiting relatives and just want to carry on with the series you’ve been watching at home.

Streaming libraries differ from country to country because of licensing and regional availability. With a VPN you can connect to a server in another country and change the location websites see, which can give you more to choose from.

Keep in mind that some services restrict VPN use in their terms, and that catalogs and rules change, so a VPN can’t guarantee access to a particular title. Check the service’s rules first.

4. When you’re working from somewhere that isn’t your desk

Not everyone gets a full break. Maybe you’re answering a few emails from a relative’s spare room, or finishing a report in a hotel lobby before the family dinner.

Work logins, shared documents and company email are exactly what you don’t want exposed on a network you don’t control. A VPN encrypts the connection between your device and the VPN server, adding protection when you work on shared or public Wi-Fi. Note that a VPN doesn’t replace your employer’s own security policies or work VPN, so check what your company requires.

5. When you simply want more privacy while you browse

Staying with relatives and using their Wi-Fi? Shopping for a last-minute gift? Planning a trip you’d rather keep to yourself? Or maybe you’re at home and just don’t want your internet provider to see which websites you visit.

With a VPN on, your ISP and the network you’re connected to can’t see which sites you visit through the encrypted connection. It doesn’t make you anonymous online, and the VPN provider can see your connection details instead, so it’s worth choosing a provider you trust.

It also helps when the whole family is online. New phones, tablets and consoles are coming out of their boxes, and you should choose a VPN that covers more devices simultaneously on one subscription.

The best time to turn on your VPN is before you need it

At least one of these moments is coming. Set up your VPN now, while it’s easy, rather than at the airport gate.

Bitdefender Premium VPN encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address, giving you more privacy while you browse, shop, stream or travel. It offers:

• 3000 server locations in +100 countries to choose from
• Unlimited encrypted traffic
• Up to 10 devices connected simultaneously
• Auto-connect, so the VPN switches on in the situations you choose, like public Wi-Fi
• Strict “no traffic logs” policy

Check our website for the Holiday offer that you deserve.

Get Bitdefender Premium VPN

Enjoy more private browsing at home and wherever the holidays take you.

You may also want to read:

• When should you use a VPN?
• Is my VPN working? 7 easy tests to see if it works
• Using a VPN for the first time? Do these 5 things

FAQs

Should I use a VPN when shopping online?

A VPN can add an extra layer of privacy, particularly on public or unfamiliar Wi-Fi. It encrypts the traffic between your device and the VPN server and masks your IP address. You should still shop only on legitimate websites and use secure payment methods. A VPN doesn’t protect you from phishing or fake stores.

Can a VPN help me get cheaper prices online?

Not necessarily. A VPN lets you see how websites and offers appear from other locations, but sites use many factors to set prices, including cookies, device and browsing history. A VPN doesn’t guarantee cheaper flights, hotels or products.

Can I use a VPN for streaming while traveling?

A VPN can help you reach your usual services while you’re away, but catalogs, availability and rules vary between services and countries, and some services restrict VPN use. A VPN doesn’t guarantee access to particular content.

Should I leave my VPN on all the time?

You can keep a VPN connected whenever you want the extra privacy. If you’d rather not manage it manually, some VPNs, including Bitdefender Premium VPN, can connect automatically in situations you choose, such as when you join public Wi-Fi.

Should I use a VPN at home?

It can be useful. A VPN stops your internet provider from seeing which sites you visit through the VPN connection and masks your IP address. Your VPN provider can see that traffic instead, so choose one you trust.