Anil Polat is the blogger and brains behind FoXNomad, a travel blog heavy with tech information. His blog is always my first stop if I need tech travel advice. Concurrently he also runs Tech Guide for Travel and Travel Blog Advice; where he finds the time to run them, I don’t know.

The Ultimate Tech Guide for Travelers

Anil is in the enviable position of knowing just about everything one needs to know about electronic devices. In his previous life he was a computer hacker - the good kind as he says. He has put his talents to use and written an ebook - The Ultimate Tech Guide for Travelers. Its 40 pages packed with useful information that sells for $US37. But with the purchase you also get one on one technical support with Anil for six months. That in itself is worth much more than $37.

Before you scoff at the $37 price tag, know this. Unless otherwise noted all software suggested is free. And the 40 pages come with links to numerous articles so the real length of the book is closer to 100 pages.

I spent time going through the whole book and checking out many of the links. It is a virtual treasure chest of information. I’m impressed!

Here’s the sort of technical information you’ll find inside The Ultimate Tech Guide for Travelers

• How to choose the right laptop – specifically should it be a laptop or a netbook. There is a good explanation of terms and for the Mac lovers he explains how you can make a Ubuntu Linux look and work like Window’s 7 or Apple’s Leopard. That in itself will cover the cost of the book.
• How to create a free, bullet proof online backup system. Links to the best free online backup services are provided. For the travelers that shoot thousands of pictures this information is invaluable.
• Links for free photo and video editing. He also gives his views on which are better and why.
• Links to free software to replace Microsoft Office plus 9 other free alternatives.
• How to turn your laptop (or cellphone) into a thief catching booby trap.
• How to stay connected from anywhere in the world.
• Learn how to encrypt your data so even security officers at border crossings can’t find your hidden files.
• Links for free wi-fi all over the world. Also which hotels charge for wi-fi …and how to get around that.
• Links for free online language lessons and links to other students learning a language.
• E-book readers – tips for buying and using them.
• His last chapter is devoted to the ultimate hacking secrets – stuff like proxying around – which is way beyond my skill level.

I learned all sorts of interesting facts.

• Did you know that a randomly generated password which is 12 characters or longer cannot currently be hacked?
• Wireless routers are located in hotels usually at the edge of ceilings at the end of hallways and it’s best to get a room no more than 150 feet away. Mirrors should be in front not behind you in relation to the router. Who knew?

Anil reinforced picking a different password for each account.

• Use a different password for all your accounts. I balk at this because I can’t remember them all. But he gives the links to very useful password managers (KeePassX and Password Safe) so all you have to do is remember one password.

The book isn’t just links to other sites. It’s a very readable, informative account of how to get the most out of our electronic bits and pieces. There are sections in bold type throughout the book with Tech Guide Tips – packed with relevant information. Anil will get you thinking proactively about how to look after all your online information – something so many people attend to only after a problem has occurred.

The layout is excellent, complements of  Hop and Jaunt, a pair of travel bloggers themselves with a design business.

You can download this book and read it on your computer, print it off or download to a Kindle or Nook. The problem after reading this book is that you might feel a tad overwhelmed. What should you do first – get the passwords protected, the data encrypted or put a bulletproof online backup system in place? I want to do it all now that I’ve read the book.

I highly recommend The Ultimate Tech Guide for Travelers. You don’t have to be a traveler to reap the rewards of the information presented.

Leigh McAdam

HikeBikeTravel

***Anil presented me with a free copy of his book.***