Safe on WiFi outdoors

People with a smartphone generally have a data bundle with which they can safely use the internet via the 3G, 4G or 5G network. But is your bundle almost empty and you want to look up something on the way? Then there is wifi available in many places. Other devices, such as tablets or laptops, often only work with Wi-Fi. There are several ways to safely use WiFi outside your home.

Free Wi-Fi is often available in public buildings, shops and many other places these days. Sometimes you just need to select the network to get online. Other times, on a website that opens, you have to indicate that you agree to the conditions, such as in Albert Heijn stores. Or you need a password. Please note: you must use these WiFi connections not online banking, logging into web services or entering privacy-sensitive information on sites. The connection is not secure enough for that. Read more about this in the article ‘Using Wi-Fi safely on the go’.

KPN and Ziggo customers can use Wifispots outside the home. You use a protected part of the Wi-Fi of other customers. You can then surf the internet on their connection. If they are near your house, they can use your WiFi. A handy and in itself safe way of surfing the internet. Read more about it in our article ‘Using your provider’s WiFi spots’.

People who want to go a step further can purchase a mobile router and use it for the Wi-Fi connection. A mobile router is used in combination with a data plan. It retrieves data through the provider’s network and sets up a Wi-Fi network. You connect to this WiFi network with your tablet, phone or laptop. The device is also called mi-fi, from mobile WiFi.

Mobile routers are for sale from about 60 euros. This does not include the costs for a SIM card with an internet subscription. Internet via a mobile router is in principle safe, if the connection is encrypted and has a password. This can also be an attractive alternative for using the internet abroad.

VPN is the abbreviation of Virtual Private Network. It is a technique for setting up an internet connection that cannot be traced back to you as a consumer. There is, as it were, a party between you and the internet. This will not tie your digital activities to you. Anyone who uses a VPN connection is assigned an anonymous IP address by the provider, usually from another country. Websites and services you visit ‘think’ that you are accessing the internet from that country. So they don’t know who you are and where your internet comes from. That can be useful. VPNs come in various forms. Usually you have to take out a paid subscription with a VPN provider. You can then connect to the VPN from all your devices using your login name and password. A VPN is safe to use and offers a lot of privacy.

New is the Keezel, a device that provides all your devices with a secure VPN internet connection at the touch of a button.

There are multiple ways to use Wi-Fi outdoors. Free via local providers and companies, via Wifispots, a mobile router or a VPN. Depending on your needs and your budget, choose an option that suits you best. Always think carefully. It’s easy to do some banking via a free, unsecured connection. But that is unwise. There can always be malicious people who are after your data.