If you’re booking travel online you need to beware. There’s a new hack to save hundreds of dollars on flights and hotels and it’s doing the rounds on social media. But it could be more expensive than you think. Here’s what you do to stay safe.
VPNs — virtual private networks — secure the data transmitted between your device and the websites and online services you use. They also mask your location, letting you pretend to be somewhere you’re not. That’s why they hit the headlines this year.
We saw this first when TikTok was briefly banned in the U.S. Unfortunately this didn’t beat the ban. If you have a U.S. phone and app, TikTok knows where you are.
That’s not the case with porn and the proof of age and identity requirements targeting users in multiple U.S. states and more recently the U.K. Porn access is blocked subject to some form of check. But a VPN solves that problem in an instant.
Simply change the VPN server location to an unrestricted city, state or country, and the access restriction is immediately lifted. It’s so blatant, you can even see the block and then change the VPN location, refresh the page, and you’re in.
And now there’s another reason users may click to hide — dynamic pricing. We all know it’s there, pricing that’s continually adjusted to reflect scarcity and demand. We know this is especially acute when it comes to flights and hotel rooms. But location also plays a part — your location can change the price of a flight or hotel, regardless of demand.
Whether or not this actually saves money is the subject of much debate. But plenty of buyers are keen to find out. There’s also the question of whether you may see your travel cancelled if you’re caught out. But again, plenty of buyers seem willing to take the risk.
One issue is that websites and platforms can see through the VPN to check your likely location in different ways. Your device setup or cellular networks if discernible. Or the language and regional settings in your browser. Most don’t bother, but they can.
The much bigger risk is with the free VPNs that top the install charts and which most users turn to when they want to mask their location. These can be dangerous. If you’re using a VPN for porn, for travel savings or even just for security if you’re old school, make sure it’s blue chip and not based in China. That likely means a paid offering.
Whatever your reasons for turning to a VPN, here are the golden rules:
- Only install VPNs from Google’s Play Store or Apple’s App Store
- Only use paid VPNs on a clear monthly or annual subscription for a sensible amount, never use a VPN with obfuscated in-app purchases
- Only use VPNs from recognized developers that you can easily find on mainstream websites, and never any that operate out of China
- Always ensure Play Protect is enabled on Android, and never disable or pause Play Protect to install a VPN that has been flagged as high-risk.
