The expert spoke about the mistakes of tourists when using communication abroad

Mobile communication has become one of the main tools of travelers: without the Internet abroad, it can be difficult to get a boarding pass, order a taxi, open a reservation for accommodation or find the right route. However, most of the problems with communication during trips are not due to technology, but due to the mistakes of the users themselves. Anna Kashnitskaya, the founder of the Unisimka project, told Izvestia about this on August 2.

According to the expert, one of the most common mistakes of tourists is to rely only on free Wi-Fi. Previously, this approach really allowed us to solve basic tasks, but today the Internet is needed almost constantly: for navigation, communication, payment for services, confirmation of banking transactions and information search.

As a result, travelers often connect to open networks at airports, cafes, shopping malls, and hotels. This method can be not only inconvenient, but also unsafe. According to Kashnitskaya, scammers can create fake access points with names similar to official networks in order to gain access to user data.

"Uncontrolled roaming is becoming another common problem. If you leave the mobile Internet enabled on your home SIM card, your smartphone can automatically update applications, sync photos, and use high-cost traffic," she said.

For Russian tourists, the situation is complicated by the fact that some domestic services may not work correctly through local networks. In such cases, travelers temporarily enable roaming to access banking applications, government Services, or airline websites, but then forget to disable data transmission.

A separate risk arises in the border areas due to the so-called network drift. The smartphone can automatically connect to the operator of a neighboring country if its signal is stronger. For example, on the Greek island of Corfu, the device can select the Albanian network, in the area of Dubrovnik, Croatia, the operators of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in Eilat, Israel, the Jordanian networks. To avoid unexpected expenses, the expert recommends disabling automatic network selection in such places and manually selecting the operator of the host country.

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Another mistake travelers make is choosing an eSIM based only on price. Today, there are many offers for different countries, but the cheapest tariff is not always the most convenient.

When choosing an eSIM, it is important to take into account not only the cost, but also the quality of coverage outside major cities, the possibility of using the tariff in several countries, the validity period of the package after activation, and the availability of speed limits after spending a certain amount of traffic.

Those who plan to visit several countries in one trip should pay special attention to the choice of fare. A cheap offer can only work in one direction, and after crossing the border, communication may no longer be available or become significantly more expensive.

The expert also advises to study reviews about the work of the operator's support service. In case of problems, it is important for tourists to be able to get help quickly, since the lack of communication abroad in itself becomes an additional source of stress.

Another common mistake is the lack of preparation of a smartphone before a trip. Before departure, it is recommended to download offline maps, save tickets, documents and important contacts, as well as install translators with the ability to work without the Internet.

In addition, it is worth checking your phone's settings: disable automatic app updates and background synchronization to avoid unnecessary traffic consumption. If you plan to use eSIM, it is better to install it in advance.

The expert noted that the lack of built-in eSIM support is not always an obstacle to using such technology. Today, there are solutions that allow you to connect eSIM even on some devices without the corresponding function using special modules for the slot of a regular SIM card.

According to Kashnitskaya, most of the problems with communication when traveling are united by one reason — lack of training. Because of this, the first hours after arrival may be spent searching for Wi-Fi, setting up a phone, and choosing the right fare. A pre-selected communication method, verified smartphone settings and saved documents allow you to avoid unnecessary stress and start your journey without technical difficulties.

On July 19, Petr Shcherbachenko, an associate professor at the Financial University, gave recommendations on how to protect against fraudsters in case of an increase in suspicious calls. The expert advised to establish a self-lock on loans and loans, as well as to prohibit real estate transactions without the personal participation of the owner.