Accessing the internet has become a daily habit in most of our lives. It is a useful tool that allows us to stay connected with our friends and family, access important information and make our day to day life more convenient than ever.

This is even more the case when travelling. From booking hotels to letting your family know how you’re doing, using the internet is something most travellers will do fairly frequently.

Recently the number of of free wifi connections you will likely encounter during your trip has drastically increased. Available in bars, hotels and coffee shops throughout the world, free wifi is convenient and allows you to access the internet in a number of places.

Of course, all this free wifi and cheap internet cafes don’t come without their risks. From hackers watching your wifi to old pc’s riddled with viruses there are many things to watch out for while using the internet abroad (as there of course are at home too).

This article will alert you of some of the potential dangers, as well as of some of the effective ways you can protect yourself.

The abundance of free wifi you’ll come across when travelling can be an absolute godsend. Those worrying moments when you arrive in a new city only to have absolutely no idea about where anything is can be solved in a second by some free wifi in a cafe or or bar.

What you need to remember though is that these connections aren’t necessarily secure. Think about it, if you are able to access the wifi, that of course means many other people are also able to access it.

When using wifi try to use ones that require a password, as you at least know that there is some limit to the people who use these connections. Also it will probably be best to avoid typing in any sensitive data and especially making payments on these connections.

One way to make these connections safer is to use a VPN. A VPN will encrypt all data that

from your device which will make it much harder for anyone looking in to see what you are doing online.

If you ever need to use a public wifi connection a VPN can certainly make it a little safer to do so.

ProxyRack are currently offering their VPN to download for free. Check it out

Use caution when logging onto public computers

If you don’t have a device that allows you to connect to the internet with you, internet cafes or public computers can be really helpful.

However, have you ever been stuck at one of these computers, with each page taking ages to load? Of course you have! That is because most of the time, these computers aren’t exactly in the best shape. What with years of public use and often no one really caring enough to look after them, these computers can be a security nightmare.

As well as viruses, it is possible for people to install keyboard tracking software that checks for passwords as well as a whole host of other nasties.

As with public wifi, it is advisable to use caution when using these computers. Try to avoid putting in too much sensitive data when using them.

Check the settings on internet cafe computers

Even if the computer is clean, you should also make sure to check things such as browser settings. Browsers often (innocently) try to do things like save your passwords and login data so you should make sure this isn’t the case before using these computers. At the very least, if the browser has an incognito mode you should probably try to use it.

Using strong passwords is a sensible idea whether you are travelling or not. Use a combination of lower/upper case letters, numbers, and special characters to really make your password as strong as possible.

You should also keep it to at least eight characters and try to change your password as often as possible. Finally try not to use the same password for every account you have.

If you can, type in https into your browser before the www. instead of http. If you do this and a padlock appears next to the address, it means your connection is encrypted. Many sites such as

and Facebook offer this service and it makes it much harder for people to steal your data when using these sites.

Use your cell phone data if you have a decent plan

One thing to consider is using your phone’s data when travelling abroad. A lot of phone networks offer some kind of international data roaming plan that can be cheaper than expected.

As well as the huge convenience that having your own data gives you, data you send on your phone’s network is usually much harder to incept than data sent on a wifi network.

Of course you should confirm with your network about what their exact rules and regulations are in relation to using you phone abroad.

The availability of the internet has arguably made travelling much easier than ever before. It is a convenient solution to many problems and allows travellers to stay in contact with the the people they care about.

While it should not be ignored, a little vigilance when using the internet abroad can help keep you and your data safe and ensure you have the best possible trip away!

How to Protect your Internet Security While Travelling

When the download has finished simply click on the .pkg file.

This will open up the VPN client installer. Follow the on-screen instructions to select an installation destination and installation type, then enter your password if required and wait for the installation to finish.

Upon completion of the installation, the Proxy Rack software will open up to the screen shown below.

Here you should simply enter the username and password you made earlier on the Proxy Rack website.

Once you have logged into the software you will be shown the following screen which gives you the option to connect to one of Proxy Rack VPN’s available servers.

If you have a specific country you want to connect to you can choose from one of Proxy Rack VPN’s twelve countries. Alternatively for the fastest possible browsing experience, choose the ‘fastest server’ option.

Click ‘next’ on the following two screens. The second gives you the options to follow Proxy Rack on Facebook or

be sure to do so to keep in touch with Proxy Rack about the latest updates!

After choosing your network the software will minimize into the toolbar on your Mac. When it does this you just need to push the switch into the ‘on’ position. When the VPN connects it clearly notifies you and you will see your new IP address.

The software will then continue to work in the background of your computer, meaning you can get on with your work without interruption.

To change to a different network or to change any of the settings on the VPN, just click the icon in your toolbar. Selecting a different server is as simple as choosing a new country from the drop-down menu and pushing the switch on.

Meanwhile, from the settings button you have the option to change the settings, view your account, turn on the internet kill-switch or contact Proxy Rack VPN’s customer support team.

Installation Instructions for OS X

This guide will now focus on the instructions for installation using Windows. Please scroll down for installation instructions using

Upon receiving the installation software and clicking on the link, the Proxy Rack VPN installation wizard will open on your computer.

Simply click next, follow the instructions and the program will install in a matter of seconds.

The software will automatically open on to the following screenshot. On this page just enter the email and password you used to register on the Proxy Rack website.

After logging in, you just need to choose which server you would like to connect to and press next. Proxy Rack currently offers 20 connections in twelve different countries as well as the option to choose the fastest available server.

The following two screens show you some of the programs you can use with Proxy Rack VPN and then offer you the options to follow them on Facebook and

. Be sure to follow for the latest updates!

The program will then minimize into your hidden icons try. This allows the software to work in the background without disrupting your work.

To open the program just click on the icon. This will open the following screen, from which you can

 connect to one of Proxy Rack VPN’s servers by turning the switch on.

Alternatively to switch to a different server you can just choose one from the menu, click on it and set the switch to ‘on’.

From this screen, you can also access Proxy Rack VPN’s settings. This allows you to turn on the internet kill-switch, adjust the VPN’s start-up options, access your account and connect to Proxy Rack’s customer service team.

And that is how to download and install Proxy Rack on both OSX and Windows. As you can see it is a very simple process to complete on both operating systems. Hopefully you found this guide helpful and you have no problems installing the app.

Installation Instructions for Windows

Using a VPN can be a great way to access geo-blocked content such as Netflix on your computer. By changing your IP address a VPN can make Netflix think you are browsing the internet in the USA. This allows people living outside the USA to use their service.

However with Netflix improving their location blocking all the time, this is becoming harder and harder to do. While some paid VPNs still offer dedicated Netflix unblocking services, it is becoming rarer and rarer for a free VPN to offer a reliable unblocking service.

ProxyRack VPN is a reliable and free way to unblock Netflix content wherever you are in the world. In fact, ProxyRack VPN has a server dedicated to unblocking Netflix that has currently unblocked over 508,000 Netflix movies.

Check out our guide on how to unblock Netflix and make sure that next time you want to watch a movie, TV show or documentary on Netflix you will have no problems doing just that.

As well as all the security features a VPN offers, a VPN also allows you to access a website with an IP address from a different country. This allows you to access content that is blocked in your country of residence.

Since January of this year, Netflix has actually been available in most countries throughout the world. However China is still a pretty big exception so if you live in China, using a VPN can be a great way to access Netflix, as well as all the other sites blocked in

So if Netflix is available in almost every country in the

you may be wondering what the point of using a VPN to access the service is. If that is the case, read on and I’ll explain.

Despite Netflix likely being available in your country of residence, the service on offer varies drastically from one country to another. For example, the US has a much higher number of movies and shows available to stream, even when compared to countries like the UK and Australia.

In fact in March this year it was found that Netflix users in Australia could only access 38.29% of movie titles and 34.5% of TV show titles that Netflix USA offers. This includes blockbuster TV shows such as Breaking Bad and Sherlock.

The reason behind this is that content deals are negotiated on a regional, not on a global scale. This allows distribution companies to get more money as they can sign multiple deals with each different region. The problem for the customer is that due to the intricacies of these deals the service varies wildly from one region to another.

So basically for anyone wanting to access the most TV shows and movies possible, the only way to do this is through the use of a VPN.

The good news is that despite using a VPN it is still possible to get top quality streaming. Of course, the exact quality you receive will depend on a number of variables including the strength of your home network.

However using a VPN should still allow you to stream HD quality movies and TV shows.

How to bypass Netflix block for Free using ProxyRack VPN

While there are many services out there that will unblock Netflix USA for you, ProxyRack is advantageous as it is completely free to use. After all, if you are already paying for your Netflix subscription you don’t want to have to spend even more money to watch the shows.

Using ProxyRack to unblock Netflix USA is a very simple process. Firstly you need to go to www.proxyrack.com/vpn/ to sign up to their service. You will then be redirected to the VPN download which you can simply install in a few moments.

After this, it is simply a case of selecting the server dedicated to unblocking Netflix and you will be ready to go!

One of the problems is that since Netflix unveiled its expanded service earlier in the year, they also started to make a more concerted effort to stop people using VPNs to access their service.

This means that that there is a chance of getting blocked while trying to access Netflix USA. For example a slight change to Netflix’s site mechanics could see you unable to access the service. There are however some simple things you can do to fix this or stop it from happening.

Firstly you can use the long trusted restart your computer option. This has been solving computer problems for decades and is also a good solution to this problem. In a similar vein, you can try reinstalling your software.

If this doesn’t work you can get in contact with ProxyRack VPN’s customer support by clicking the help desk option on the VPN. You can then submit a ticket containing the information in ‘Show Log’. Someone from the ProxyRack VPN customer service team will then get back to you as soon as possible with a solution to the problem.

So that is how you can still access Netflix USA for free. Until Netflix is able to negotiate worldwide content deals that are the same in each geographical area there will be a need to use a VPN to access their service.

While Netflix will continue to upgrade their ability to block VPNs, VPNs will continue to update their methods as well. This means that for the foreseeable future you will be able to access Netflix USA using a VPN.

How to Unblock Netflix Using ProxyRack VPN

Network (VPN), is a piece of software that allows you to connect to a private network through a public network.

When you are connected to this private network, all data that is sent and received between websites and your computer is encrypted and sent through a server.

This has a number of uses some of which are:

While these are all certainly useful thing, today we are going to focus specifically on how a VPN can protect your privacy online, and how using one can help you browse the internet safely.

And don’t forget, if you want to try a VPN out for free, then why not head over to

Why should I use a VPN to protect my privacy?

As internet use becomes more and more widespread, so do the threats that come along with it. As well as this, as things such as NSA scandal show, surveillance of what you are doing on the net is also increasing.

Using a VPN is one way to reduce your susceptibility to some of the threats on the internet. This is because a VPN makes it harder for people, whether your ISP, hackers, the government or your boss to watch what you are doing on the internet.

A VPN does this by first encrypting your data, and then by sending it through a server. Let’s take a look at how these two things protect your

One of the main things a VPN does is encrypt your data. This means it changes it from its original form, into data that no-one can understand. This means that if anyone manages to intercept the data, instead of seeing your private information they will just see a lot of indecipherable gibberish.

The second thing a VPN does that protects your privacy is that it redirects your incoming and outgoing data through a server. This means that if people try to track your web browsing, they won’t see you computer or the websites you are visiting, they will just see the server you have been redirected through.

When you use the internet without a VPN all your data is unencrypted and passes through your ISP (Internet service provider).

This means that your ISP can easily see and keep a record of what you are browsing. This data can then be passed along to anyone who may require access to this data such as the government.

However, when using a VPN, all your data is encrypted and

through the VPN’s servers. This means that it is harder for you ISP to see what you are accessing, instead, it only sees that you are connected to the VPN server.

The location of your IP address also changes from your home location to that of your VPN’s server.

Protect yourself when using a public wifi hotspot

The other main protection a VPN offers you is that it gives you extra protection when using public wifi hotspots.

Anytime you connect to a wifi hotspot you are essentially putting your data into the hands of an unknown quantity. If you use these wifi spots frequently your data could be at risk numerous times a week.

All it takes is for one of these public spots to be hacked and all your data from that session could have been stolen. That could include things such as work emails, facebook passwords or even internet banking.

It is also worth mentioning that even if you trust the hotspot provider, if the network is unprotected (ie no password, anyone can access it), there is still a chance of danger. This is because hackers can access the public network as easily as you can.

However, by using a VPN when you connect to public WiFi hotspots, your connection is encrypted. This means that is if anyone on the public network is trying to intercept your data it will be much harder for them to see your information.

Of course, VPN’s aren’t completely foolproof and there are a couple of things you should think about.

Firstly your data will go through your VPN provider. This essentially means that you should make sure you trust the provider to look after your data. As a VPN providers livelihood is essentially made on selling a product that protects people’s privacy, most providers try to keep as little of your data as possible. However, this is still something that you should check.

The second downside is that encrypting all your data and sending it through servers on the other side of the world can mean your internet connection slows down. While most people’s connections are fast enough for it not to be especially noticeable, you can keep things as fast as possible by choosing servers that are as close to your destination as possible.

And that is all for our roundup of how a VPN can protect your privacy online. We hope that after reading this article you understand why, along with your antivirus software, getting a VPN can be a crucial part of your internet security tools.

How a VPN Can Protect Your Privacy Online

There are many reasons to use a VPN. These include stopping people spying on your browsing, helping you get access to region-restricted content and helping you evade censorship.

Because of this VPN use has been increasing recently, which has lead to an increase in VPNs on the marketplace.

However, with so much choice it can be a struggle to know what exactly to look for when choosing a VPN, as well as which is the correct VPN for you.

In this article, we aim to inform you about the main features you should be looking for when choosing your VPN.

Here are some of the things you will want to check out when choosing a VPN:

We will now take a deeper look into what exactly these terms are and why they are important for you when choosing a VPN.

The encryption protocol the VPN uses to encrypt your data.

The encryption protocol is how a VPN hides your data. This can affect things such as how secure the VPN is, as well as the speed of your internet connection.

When choosing a VPN you will notice that there are many different protocols that VPNs use to protect your data.

Some of the names you may see are PPTP, L2TP/IPsec and OpenVPN.

Of these, PPTP is the oldest and least secure option. Because of this, it has some security issues and when considering the wide range of VPNs available it should really be avoided where possible.

The second option is L2TP/IPsec. While it is certainly better that PPTP it is not as fast as the third option,

. It can be a good choice for protecting yourself on

The option that is generally regarded as the best quality is OpenVPN. It is secure and has plenty of setup options. One its biggest plus points is that it is also hard for sites looking to block VPNs to tell the difference between traffic coming through an OpenVPN server and a normal internet connection.

The location of a VPN server is a big deal if you are looking to get around geo-blocks or access sites blocked in your country. This is because when you connect to a server in another country it can trick websites into thinking you are browsing the internet from that country.

Therefore when choosing a VPN, if you know there is a specific site you want to access, you should make sure the VPN you choose has servers located in an area that will allow access to that site.

The location of the VPN company and logging/privacy policy

This is especially important if you are mainly worried about privacy. While a VPN will stop your ISP from logging your browsing it may well keep a log of your activity itself. Therefore if you are worried about privacy you should check the company’s logging policy before signing up.

One thing to note is that as a VPN sells itself on keeping your

, they will generally want to keep as little data as possible. Therefore the specifics of the logging/privacy policy will often depend on the laws of the country it is based in.

Each country has a different law when it comes to what data the company has to retain and when it comes to turning this data over to the authorities. This means that if you want a VPN that doesn’t log your data you should choose one based in a country that doesn’t require VPNs to keep their customer’s data.

When looking for a VPN you should also check if there are any limitations on the amount you can use it.

While most paid VPNs will give you unlimited bandwidth, some of the free ones will limit you to a certain number of megabytes of data a month. This can be a problem if you plan to stream music or play games.

As well as this even some paid VPNs have limits or bans on things such as downloading torrents. Therefore if this is something you plan to do you should check before signing up for a service.

VPNs vary in price quite a lot so it is worth shopping around and thinking about what you will use your VPN for.

For example, if you just want a bit of security it isn’t necessary to have server connections in 90 different countries. This is because you can only use one server at a time and as long as your data is being sent through a VPN’s server it doesn’t matter

On the other hand, if you want specific features such as the ability to access

use, you should make sure that you pay for a service that allows what you need.

Usability is certainly a key thing to think about when choosing a VPN. VPN’s range from programs where you simply pick a server and go, to ones with hundreds of adjustable options and features.

For some people, a more complicated VPN with access to all the options will be a good choice while for others one that offers the simplest and quickest service possible will be the best choice for them.

And that is our list of what to look for when choosing a VPN. The most important thing is to decide what you want to use your VPN for and choose one that suits your uses.

Also, if you want to try a VPN without paying a cent, Proxy Rack offer their service completely free of charge. Download it at www.proxyrack.com/vpn/.

What to look for when choosing a VPN

Please note this article is no longer relevant

Signup for a free account by clicking “Download Free VPN” here:

On this page you will see a screen like the one below.

To start the download process simply click on the ‘Download Free VPN’ button.

As Proxy Rack is a completely free service, there is no need to add any payment details.

Simply enter your username, password, and email address into the applicable boxes and press next.

You will then be sent a confirmation email, simply click the link in the email and you will be directed to your Proxy Rack dashboard.

**If the email doesn’t arrive in five minutes, try checking your spam folder.**

Once on your dashboard, you can download the VPN installation software by clicking on the VPN download button and selecting the operating system you use.

This guide will now focus on the instructions for installation using OS X. Please scroll down for installation instructions using Windows.