This World Refugee Day (20 June), we’re joining with many others from around the world in raising awareness of the plight of refugees – the more than 80 million people worldwide who’ve fled their homes in search of a better, safer life elsewhere.
For refugees, seeking safety is about much more than finding shelter, food, and clothes. Displaced individuals also need to be able to connect safely with family, each other and the rest of the world. Much like the real world, the online world is fraught with danger for refugees trying to find their way to a better future.
CyberGhost VPN believes in digital freedom for all — including refugees. No matter who or where you are, you have a right to connect online without being targeted on account of your political opinion or status. Our VPN helps you protect your identity and keeps your data out of reach of snoopers.
We’re here to ensure you‘re free to participate in discussions around World Refugee Day without risking exposing your identity, current location or online activities.
What is World Refugee Day?
World Refugee Day was introduced in June 2001 by members of the United Nations as a way to show global support for individuals who are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict or persecution.
Communities, government officials, leaders, celebrities, and refugees around the world come together to mark the international day through online discussions, musical and theatrical performances, films, and school and local community events.
For 2022, the theme for World Refugee Day focuses on the human right to seek safety: everyone has the right to find safety, no matter who they are, where they’ve come from, or where they’re going.
While World Refugee Day 2022 makes a positive impact on many around the globe, participating and connecting with others online can be risky for refugees.
Sometimes, the countries they flee to place heavy restrictions on sharing politically-sensitive information and accessing certain websites.
Why Are Refugees At Greater Risk Than Regular Citizens?
Refugees leave everything they’ve ever known to escape conflict and find safety elsewhere. They rely on shelter, food, and support from their host communities to survive.
Many refugees also rely on digital aid to connect with friends and family at home, access critical information, and find employment when they’ve crossed international borders. However, doing so can compromise their digital privacy and security, and even put their lives at risk.
From digital surveillance and online fees to highly-targeted online scams, refugees face a multitude of cyber threats.
Refugees Are At Greater Risk of Digital Surveillance
Being visible online is risky for anyone, but particularly so for refugees. As is often the case, governments use surveillance tactics to monitor citizens’ and foreigners’ movements, opinions and communications online.
If refugees seek safety in a country that uses tough surveillance, they may be prosecuted for what they share on certain websites — especially news, social media, and instant messaging apps. Many refugees don’t trust large corporations, particularly social media giants, as they worry about how content they post could be used against them.
The regime they’re fleeing could also monitor their online activity to track their whereabouts or punish their family back home for their views online. Some refugees are fearful of being tracked, especially by telecom companies who could share information with their home country to reveal their whereabouts.
In some countries, governments may also deny refugees access to critical news regarding threats and politically-sensitive information, which may hamper their safety further.
Network Access Is More Difficult and Dangerous for Refugees
Mobile data isn’t always available or affordable, which means many refugees seek local public networks and hotspots to connect to the internet. These open Wi-Fi networks typically have weaker security. Cybercrooks monitor these networks waiting to steal valuable data, such as personally identifiable information (PII) or financial data.
Data falling into the wrong hands is highly risky for anyone, but for refugees, it comes with additional consequences. Aside from identity theft, fraud, and scams, this could leave refugees and their location exposed. If a cybercriminal decides to share this information, refugees may face prosecution from their home country as a result of fleeing elsewhere.
Refugees Are More Vulnerable to Online Scams
Cybercriminals prey on refugees’ vulnerabilities, knowing they’re in desperate need of a route to safety. They monitor and target refugees with scams that falsely promise access to safety and shelter in return for money.
While cybercriminals may make a financial profit, it also means they can access PII, which is incredibly risky for refugees. Most are fearful of handing out their personal information because of the safety risk to themselves and their families back home.
Refugees May Face Higher Fees for Online Traffic
Refugees may also face additional charges to use certain popular social and messaging platforms. For example, refugees in Uganda are subject to over-the-top (OTT) tax to use social media sites. This makes using the internet too expensive for many refugees, leaving them disconnected from their families and friends.
Many refugees simply choose to avoid online tools altogether. They know they’re under tough surveillance, and everything they do online is monitored. If refugees open communication lines with their families, it leaves them at risk of exposure. Governments can easily track their location and even spy on their conversations.
How Does a VPN Help You Stay Safe Online?
Using a VPN helps you protect your digital identity, whereabouts and private communications.
A VPN allows you to connect to a remote server located in another country. It disguises your real IP address and switches it to one from whichever country you choose, so no one knows where you actually are.
A VPN also sends all of your online traffic through a secure, encrypted tunnel, separate from all other internet traffic. The encryption scrambles your traffic to make it impossible for anyone to make sense of it, which is especially important on unsecured public networks.
A VPN masks your digital identity to protect your privacy. No one can spy on you or see what you’re up to, and you can evade surveillance and OTT taxes. If your ISP doesn’t know you’re in the country or which social media site you’re using, it can’t block you or charge you additional fees.
The encrypted VPN tunnel also makes sure no data falls into the wrong hands. Hackers are unable to break through the VPN tunnel to steal any information. Even if they could get through, they can’t make use of your data because the encryption code makes it unreadable.
Use a VPN to strengthen your defence against the greatest threats facing both refugees and ordinary civilians online today.
Is CyberGhost VPN A Good Choice for Refugees?
CyberGhost is a reliable, affordable VPN that’s helping refugees around the world maintain their privacy and safety online.
👀 Stay Private Online
CyberGhost VPN uses military-grade 256-bit AES encryption and the most secure VPN protocols to keep you protected online. This level of encryption is unbreakable, so no one can access your data. Not even the government or your ISP can see what you’re doing online while connected to our VPN.
Our strict No Logs policy means we don’t store any of your session data — not your IP address, browsing history, or PII. With nothing to store, we have nothing to share. That way, we protect you from the threat of persecution, prosecution or risky online scams.
📲 Secure All Devices
Use CyberGhost VPN across all of your devices at once. One subscription comes with 7 simultaneous connections, so you can secure your data and online traffic on every device you own.
Our apps are also compatible with all major platforms, including Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux. No matter where you are, or what device you’re using, we’ll make sure you’re free to connect over the internet with confidence.
💸 Try Us Risk-Free
VPNs are often too expensive for refugees, which means many opt for free alternatives, or nothing at all. However, free VPNs are just as bad as using nothing. They use weak security protocols and may even log your data, so you can’t rely on them to protect your privacy.
CyberGhost VPN offers competitive pricing, with a choice of affordable subscription plans. We don’t have any extra charges and we also offer a 45-day money-back guarantee, so it’s completely risk-free to try us out. Become a Ghostie today and join our growing community of cyber-savvy, freedom seekers today!
Stay Safe Online on World Refugee Day and Beyond
World Refugee Day 2022 offers the chance to come together and celebrate the strength and courage of refugees around the world. Yet, some refugees are unable to connect with others — intense online monitoring, lack of Wi-Fi, additional internet charges, and growing cyber threats leave many refugees too scared to venture online.
This year, World Refugee Day reminds us all that everyone has a right to safety. Here at CyberGhost VPN, we’re doing our part to ensure that right includes digital safety too.
Our VPN lets refugees connect with the online world without risking their privacy or security. High-level encryption and IP masking makes sure refugees can make the most of the opportunities online to rebuild their lives without exposing themselves to new dangers.
FAQ
World Refugee is a global event held every year on June 20. It aims to raise awareness of the rights of refugees around the world. Refugees are among the world’s most vulnerable groups, dependent on their host countries for shelter, food, clothing, and even contact with family and friends.
At CyberGhost VPN, we’re making sure refugees around the world can use the internet and connect with their loved ones safely, no matter where they are. Our VPN hides your IP and encrypts your traffic with cutting-edge VPN technology to protect your online identity. That means no one can restrict your access to online services, locate your whereabouts or snoop on your personal conversations.
The theme of World Refugee Day 2022 focuses on the right to safety. Everyone, no matter who or where they are, has the right to be safe. This includes being safe online.
With CyberGhost VPN’s military-grade encryption, no one can track your activities and location, access your data, or read your conversations.
World Refugee Day celebrates the courage and resilience of refugees around the world. Events are held all over the globe to increase understanding of the many risks refugees face in their effort to find safety.
CyberGhost VPN is playing our part by helping refugees and other vulnerable people protect their identities online. A VPN reduces the risk of being persecuted, hit with expensive fees to use social media platforms, and targeted with visa scams and false promises. Try CyberGhost VPN risk-free with our 45-day money-back guarantee!
Yes. People all over the world join in to celebrate World Refugee Day with musical performances, live TV broadcasts, films, school events, local community parties, and fundraising events.
If you’re hoping to join in on some of the events and discussions online, make sure you do so safely. Use CyberGhost VPN to hide your IP and online traffic, so your online activities stay private and no one can use your refugee status against you.
Need help setting up our app? Our Customer Support team is on call 24/7 to see you safely connected.
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