Protect Your Digital Identity in Bali With a Simple App

A simple solution to a major problem

When you go on holiday to Bali and Lombok, you might use the Internet on your phone, computer, or tablet to do fun things like email your friends and family, watch videos, or play games. You might even need to do some banking using an app on your phone or connect to your work email.

But did you know that the Internet, and WiFi in particular, in Indonesia can sometimes be dangerous? People who are up to no good can steal your personal information, like your password and credit card number, when you use public Wi-Fi at places like airports, cafes, or restaurants.

It’s called being hacked, and you do not want that. You could lose access to your bank accounts, lose money, and have your personal details stolen.

Related:

Bali Travel Tips

Bali Travel Insurance

Best Apps for Bali

Here’s how the hackers work in places like Bali

Connecting to public Wi-Fi in foreign countries can be risky as hackers can set up fake hotspots or access unsecured public routers to monitor your online activity. They can intercept your internet traffic, infect your device with malware, and steal your personal information. This often happens when authenticating yourself on public Wi-Fi by typing in sensitive information such as email addresses or phone numbers. Accidentally connecting to a hacker's hotspot can expose you to real danger.

By the way, Bali travel insurance usually won’t cover hacking, so you need your own protection to keep you safe. That’s why a VPN is one of the best apps to download for Bali.

That's why using a VPN is important.

VPN stands for ‘Virtual Private Network’.

Sounds complicated but it’s just an app that runs on your phone and it stands between all your private data and the internet connection you are using in a cafe, airport or hotel.

In otherwords, it's like a secret tunnel that protects your online activities from bad guys.

The VPN makes it safe for you to use the Internet. It takes a few minutes to install the app and after that, it runs silently in the background.

How does a VPN work?

Well, think of it like a secret code. When you use a VPN, your Internet connection goes through a special app on your phone, computer, or tablet. The app changes your online activities into a secret code, so no one else can see what you're doing.

The best VPNs offer a Malware protection feature to enhance your cybersecurity when traveling abroad. This feature neutralizes cyber threats and prevents them from causing harm to your device. It detects malware-ridden files, prevents you from accessing malicious websites, and instantly blocks trackers and intrusive ads for added security.

Using a VPN is also important when you use a local data SIM card in Indonesia or connect to hotel, cafe or airport WiFi. It keeps your personal information safe.

It’s like that big burly security guard at the front door of your favorite bar, keeping out the undesirables. And this burly guy is 100% on your side.

Get protection from boredom as well!

Another bonus: by using a VPN you can watch your favourite streaming services you are subscribed to because the VPN will set you to a server in home country - Netflix, Prime and all the others will think you are still at home.

If you go without a VPN you may not be able to watch your favourite shows. The importance of this becomes obvious when the ‘cable’ TV in your hotel turns out to be all Indonesian soap operas and local, fuzzy news!

Low cost protection

VPNs are also very cheap. You can even get a subscription for a month to cover your trip. For less than a coffee and cake, it's a small price to pay compared to what could happen if your privacy is compromised and your identity is stolen.

And one subscription can protect multiple devices, making it incredible value.

So which VPN is the best to use?

There are a number out there, but the problem with many is that they are slow. There are also free ones but they often make money by selling your contact details (and that’s silly, right?).

That is why we recommend only two providers: NordVPN and Surfshark.

Best Fast VPN for Bali - NordVPN

NordVPN is fast. Importantly they have 5 servers in Indonesia, so when you visit you can expect great local speeds.

And it’s one of the best VPN services in the world with a great reputation. NordVPN has a worldwide network of over 5,500 servers and awesome customer service, which means you can use it no matter where you are in the world and get great support.

NordVPN gives you:

• Privacy on any Wi-Fi

• Malware protection

• One account, six devices protected

We’ve partnered with NordVPN to get you a great deal….you might want to try it for a month for your trip, and that is cool by them. You can also get incredible discounts on longer plans so you can be protected all the time, at home and on the road.

Here’s a link to read more about NordVPN and sign up - in two minutes you can have your holiday data protection all sorted.

Best Cheap VPN for Bali - Surfshark

Another great choice for a VPN for Bali and Lombok travelers is Surfshark. They also have Indonesian servers. Their pricing is slightly lower, and they allow unlimited device connections to one account. Like NordVPN, Surfshark also offers incredible discounts for longer plans.

Should you get protection just for your trip or long term?

For sure - you absolutely need a VPN to secure your digital identity for your trip to Bali and Lombok.

But because both NordVPN and Surfshark offer eye-wateringly incredible discounts on longer plans, we think its a good time to just get protected all the time, at home and wherever you go. That is what we do. Just relying on anti-virus program is not enough these days - you need the complete identity and fraud protection that a only VPN provides, even in your home, office and hometown.

NordVPN or Surfshark for Bali and Lombok?

We’ve carefully read a number of technical comparison reviews to save you time, and it seems that NordVPN is slightly faster (but you probably won’t notice it unless you're a power user) and Surfshark is slightly cheaper and Surfshark allows unlimited device connections, so they openly suggest you can share your subscription with family and friends.

So which should you choose?

We think you can’t go wrong with either, but if you want the cheapest option and like the fact that you can share your VPN with friends and family, Surfshark is a good choice.

But we also like the fact NordVPN has its own in-house support staff (but both have awesome support, mind you) and overall NordVPN has more servers worldwide .

The main thing is just pick one of these two and get protected - it really is important to secure your digital identity for the trip. Baligram gets a small commission (costs you nothing) that helps us bring you our free travel guide, so it’s a win-win. Thanks, NordVPN and Surfshark!

Checklist for Safe Travel

• Update apps: Stay protected from hackers who exploit software vulnerabilities by updating your apps before traveling. This will ensure you have the latest security features and patches.

• Unique passwords: Create new passwords for all your accounts to prevent hackers from accessing multiple profiles in case your phone or laptop is stolen.

• Travel bank account: Considering getting a separate bank account for travel with a limited amount of money in it to avoid the risks associated with using your main account’s debit card. That way, if something goes wrong (eg: an ATM skimmer gets you) your main account is safe.

• Local SIM card: Consider purchasing a local SIM card if you're only staying in one country. This will increase your security by avoiding public Wi-Fi. You should still use a VPN even with a local SIM card however.

• Use VPN: Protect all your devices with a VPN app, such as NordVPN, which can secure up to six gadgets with a single account. The user-friendly app can be easily activated with the click of a button.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using a VPN is really important when you're traveling to Bali and Lombok. It keeps your personal information safe from bad guys and makes it safe for you to use the Internet. And with NordVPN and Surfshark you can use the Internet safely no matter where you are in the world.

Questions?

If you are a little unsure and have questions, you can reach out to the NordVPN or Surfshark team using the links above - they are extremely helpful. And you are also welcome to ask us as well….we’re happy to back you up with info, advice or tips. Just drop us a line via the WhatsApp button at the bottom right of your screen.

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