5 Best Tools for Digital Nomads to Work Securely From Anywhere
The allure of the digital nomad lifestyle has attracted over 40 million people worldwide looking to escape the office and work from the beach, inner city, or remote islands.
Obviously, a decent laptop and a stable internet connection are required for this lifestyle. Outside of these, there are more tools for digital nomads they should bring with them as they travel the globe. These tools relate to:
- Secure cloud storage
- Communication
- Secure web browsing
- Finance
- Account Security
However, security and privacy are important concerns for digital nomads working in unfamiliar places. This lifestyle often requires public or shared Wi-Fi in hotels, hostels, cafes, or restaurants.
Public Wi-F is much less safe than a protected home network, as it is more open to attacks from hackers trying to steal data.
As a result, this article offers private and secure tools for digital nomads, including other bonus necessities that will help make the long journeys pass more easily on those long-haul flights!
Table of contents
What is a digital nomad?
Digital nomads have the independence to work and travel from place to place simultaneously, to the extent that no permanent residence exists, with many digital nomads staying in hostels or Airbnb. Without needing to rely on a regular commute or other commitments, a digital nomad still requires tools to work successfully.
Top cities for digital nomads
- London, UK
- Bangkok, Thailand
- New York City, USA
- Berlin, Germany
- Paris, France
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Barcelona, Spain
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- San Francisco, USA
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
Fastest growing digital nomad spots
- Tokyo, Japan
- Penang, Malaysia
- Montevideo, Uruguay
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Da Nang, Vietnam
- Seoul, South Korea
- Ho Chi Minh City
- Santiago, Chile
- Manila, Philippines
- Florianopolis, Brazil
Best tools for digital nomads to work securely from anywhere
Below, you will find the tools for digital nomads for all your travel or remote work needs. These tools will help you work productively and maintain your privacy when using the internet in unknown parts.
Secure cloud storage
Cloud storage lets you keep all your projects on any device. It eliminates the need to carry bulky physical hard drives that can get lost, broken, or corrupted. When storing your files online, it's crucial to protect them with technology that keeps them safe from hackers and data loss.
File sharing and organization: Internxt
Internxt Drive is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted platform that secures data directly on your device, protecting it from potential hackers or cyberattacks.
What’s more, unlike other companies, Internxt is zero-knowledge, meaning they can never monitor or view your files. We only encrypt your data; you have control of the encryption keys to ensure your privacy.
You can try Internxt for free, and get 1GB of free storage, and enjoy all these features:
- Secure file sharing: Password-protect and manage who accesses shared files.
- Access files from anywhere: Internxt Drive is available on Mac, Windows, and Linux.
- WebDav support: Manage your files through the Internxt CLI.
- Customer support: Our team is here to help you if you need help using Drive.
- Two-Factor Authentication: Add more security to your account.
- Internxt Send: Encrypt and send up to 5GB files privately.
Internxt Drive is one of the best and most affordable cloud storage tools for digital nomads, thanks to its emphasis on security and privacy. Monthly, annual, and lifetime plans are available outside the free plan, so you can use secure cloud storage on your digital nomad journey.
Communication
Stay updated with your employees or clients wherever you are with video conferences built with privacy in mind so you can share confidential or sensitive data without the risk of data trackers.
Video Conferencing: Brave Talk
Alongside its private web browser, Brave Talk offers unlimited private video calls for up to 4 participants on its free plan. Brave keeps your conversations private and secure, as it doesn’t allow tracking or data collection on its platform, reducing the risk of data breaches or hacks.
Unlike other popular services, such as Zoom, Brave Talk has the following features for secure video calling:
- No information that links you or others to the call is tracked.
- Browser-based, no login is required.
- Open-source.
Plus, there are no limits on the number or length of your calls. Plus, Brave Talk allows for:
- Livestream to YouTube
- Group watch a stream
- Create breakout rooms and polls (Premium only)
- Participant muting and entry passcodes (Premium only)
- 100+ participants (Premium only)
You can try Brave Talk Premium free for 7 days, then you will be charged $7.00/month.
Secure web browsing
Living the digital nomad style relies on a stable internet connection. Sometimes, however, you cannot connect to public Wi-Fi in airports, co-working spaces, or cafes. These hotspots can be risky, especially if you need to access sensitive information like online banking, emails, or other websites can target.
Internet security with a VPN
A VPN is a popular method for encrypting and securing internet traffic in public hotspots so you can browse securely and privately. Many options are available, so you must consider your VPN needs.
One popular VPN is ExpressVPN. They use end-to-end encryption to create a secure tunnel that scrambles your data and keeps it hidden and protected from network attacks.
A VPN is one of the most popular tools for digital nomads because it allows you to bypass geo-restrictions if you ever find yourself in a country where websites are blocked or you want to access your favorite TV shows unavailable in that region's streaming platform.
ExpressVPN boasts a large server network across many countries, giving you plenty of options to connect to for both security and bypassing restrictions. Plus, it's known for its fast connection speeds, so you can work, study, or access your content quickly and securely.
You can sign up for Express VPN's monthly subscription, which is $12.26 per month, or choose an annual plan, which works out at $6.31 per month.
Finance
Online banking is also a crucial part of a digital nomad life. Keeping your finances secure is vital to avoid financial disaster in a strange country.
With the right online banking provider, you can keep your financial records in check, receive your salary, and exchange currencies easily and cheaply.
Online banking: Revolut
Revolut offers a convenient way to manage your finances directly from your smartphone or with a Revolut card for certain plans. It is an alternative to traditional banks that may charge fees for using your card abroad or other charges if you want to convert currencies.
If you are traveling across several countries, you can hold multiple currencies in your account and transfer money between accounts to whatever you need. If you need physical currency, Revolut offers free ATM withdrawals each month, which are limited depending on your chosen plan.
Finally, you can also make money with Revolut’s cashback schemes and investment opportunities. A standard plan is free, and there are four paid plans available, starting from $3.99 per month for the Plus plan and going up to $45 per month for Ultra, which includes features such as:
- Global medical insurance
- Car hire access insurance
- Unlimited airport lounge access
Due to the high number of perks with Revolut and the ease of setting up an account, it is one of the best tools for digital nomads who need quick and easy access to different online currencies.
Account security
Now that you know more about the most popular tools for digital nomads, you must keep these accounts secure and private to avoid your accounts being hacked into and your information stolen.
With the right password manager, you can keep all your accounts secure.
Password manager: Bitwarden
Bitwarden is an open-source password manager that allows you to store unlimited passwords. You can access your passwords online or offline across any device.
Your passwords are encrypted directly on your device, so neither Bitwarden nor anyone else can access your master password or anything else. Plus, Bitwarden lets you share your passwords securely, which can be useful when sharing accounts in different departments.
Bitwarden is a tool for digital nomads that offers dark web monitoring. With its service, you can check if your email or password has leaked online. Bitwarden has a free plan you can use forever, $10 for an annual plan, or $40 annually if you want to share your account with up to 6 users.
A business plan is also available if you want to share one of the best tools for digital nomads with others so they can secure their online accounts.
Building a secure digital nomad lifestyle
The best tools for digital nomads make your life easier and more secure and protect you while working online. Each entry will be a valuable addition, no matter where you choose to work. You can adapt any of these services to meet your team's specific needs and workflow.
Even if you don’t live as a digital nomad or want to stick to remote or office work, these tools to increase productivity will benefit your work or personal online security and protect you while surfing the internet.