Picture this. You’ve landed your dream job as a remote software developer for a major financial tech firm in Dublin. You’ve decided to seize the moment and leave the sleepy town of Dalkey behind for the opportunity of a lifetime to travel the coast of South America. Life is great. You've backpacked with friends in the Amazon Rainforest, swam in the turquoise waters near Baia de Sancho and enjoyed the surreal view of the sun setting behind the mountains while enjoying a crisp Capiriniha.

All is well… until disaster strikes one morning. You're working from a local internet café and paying for your espresso, when all of a sudden your card is declined and you notice a string of unusual transfers appearing to an unknown bank account on your phone. You feel a lump in your throat: “how is it possible that I've been hacked?” Another rush of notifications flood in… accounts are overdrawn, your social media account password has changed and your boss is messaging you furiously asking why the company’s unannounced software has been publicly shared online. You start sweating uncontrollably, heart in your throat: “How can I get my identity back? What if I lose my job? How will I pay this month’s rent?” Slowly the realisation sinks in that an unsecure network has just turned your dream life into your worst nightmare.

Of course, the dangers posed by unsecured networks aren't just restricted to South America. According to research from Digital Security and Privacy experts - All About Cookies - one in four regular Wi-Fi users have experienced a security issue from a public Wi-Fi network.. This begs the question: how can you be truly sure that you’re protected when connected to a public network? It turns out that there is a solution to this threat, and one that enables you and your family to browse the internet securely without any prying eyes. A travel router - like D-Link’s new DBR-330 - enables  you to create a secured network from an unsecured one. By connecting to the local cafe’s Wi-Fi, the router provides a blanket of protection for all your devices by creating a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for all your connected devices. This means that - among other things - the battery-powered DBR-330 can keep those precious family memories safe and secure even if you find yourself off the beaten track and away from any Wi-Fi. With plug and play connectivity, the process couldn’t be easier. Simply plug in a pocket sized 4G/5G dongle - like the D501 5G Adapter - into the DBR 330, and the built-in VPN will immediately activate, shielding all your connected devices.  

The beauty of a private network is that it doesn’t matter whether you’re connecting in a hotel for work, at the airport awaiting a flight, or working remotely in a nearby cafe; all of your devices are protected and encrypted, helping to stop hackers in their tracks. 

So, the next time you’re daydreaming about working abroad, make sure you factor in the need to  take precautions before you venture online. A secure, portable travel router delivers the protection you need to stop your travel dreams from turning into nightmares. 

If you need any advice on Travel Routers, you can contact us via our live chat - or drop us an email