How do I use a VPN for online banking when I travel?

After discussing the benefits of how a VPN keeps you private on the web, we received a question from one of our readers: about using VPNs with online transactions.

Will I have any problem using PayPal with my banks [ in the U.S.] with a VPN? – Jeffrey P.

 

VPN for Safer Online Transactions & Banking

Great question, Jeffrey! Thanks for tuning into our work and sharing your question.

According to our research, using a VPN, or any proxy service, when accessing your PayPal account is against their Terms of Service Agreement.

“ Use an anonymizing proxy; use any robot, spider, other automatic device, or manual process to monitor or copy our websites without our prior written permission; or use any device, software or routine to bypass our robot exclusion headers.” – Paypal’s Terms of Service Agreement

So what does that mean?

The reason is that Paypal wants to preserve the transparency of where funds come and go. Many people have discovered a particular VPN glitch with Paypal. When using a VPN to access Paypal, it may require you to change your password multiple times and at times get locked out of their accounts.

 

Tip for successfully using a VPN for your banking

If you still want to take the risk of using a VPN service to access Paypal, the best way to bypass the lockouts is to choose an IP address location that is the same as where your account is primarily used – like home.

For example, if you opened and used your Paypal or bank account primarily in Tampa, Florida and you’re currently traveling in Europe, turn on the VPN and set the VPN Location to “Tampa” or around the closest city available.

If you would like to try to use your VPN service to access your bank accounts as you travel, you can set your IP address to a location that is the same geographic location from where you normally bank.

According to some online folks doing this, they’ve been able to access banks such as Bank of America with VPN service providers like our top pick, ExpressVPN.  Do check with your bank first, then check to see if your VPN provider works with them.

If you don’t want to use a VPN to connect to Paypal or your bank, you have the option of simply turning off your VPN while accessing financial information. Better still, ExpressVPN has a ‘split tunneling’ feature, which allows you to choose which device or app traffic goes through an encrypted VPN tunnel or connects directly to the internet.

If the banks know how a VPN can keep you private and won’t allow you to do a transaction, you could imagine how helpful this tool is in your everyday surfing.

For a slew of ways, VPN can keep you safer and save you money, check out our articles on:

 

Special for CyberGuy Readers: Sign up for 12 months of unlimited access to ExpressVPN and their ultra-fast global network, and you’ll get an extra 3 months totally free. That’s a 49% discount off the regular monthly price.

 

MORE: IS PUBLIC WIFI SAFE?

Is public WiFi safe?

 


   

🛍️ SHOPPING GUIDES:


KIDS   |    MEN    |    WOMEN    |   TEENS   |    PETS   | 


FOR THOSE WHO LOVE:

COOKING    |    COFFEE   |    TOOLS    |    TRAVEL    |    WINE    |


DEVICES:

 

LAPTOPS    |    TABLETS    |    PRINTERS    |    DESKTOPS    |    MONITORS  |   EARBUDS   |   HEADPHONES   |     KINDLES    |    SOUNDBARS    | KINDLES    |    DRONES    |


ACCESSORIES:

CAR   |    KITCHEN    |   LAPTOP    |   KEYBOARDS   |    PHONE   |    TRAVEL    | KEEP IT COZY    |


PERSONAL GIFTS:

PHOTOBOOKS    |   DIGITAL PHOTO FRAMES    |


SECURITY

ANTIVIRUS    |    VPN   |    SECURE EMAIL    |


CAN'T GO WRONG WITH THESE:

GIFT CARDS


Related posts

Ways the government is watching you and what you can do to protect your privacy

How to protect your online privacy and security on your next cruise vacation

How to keep your phone battery charged longer