If you’re heading to Brazil, you should figure out beforehand how you’ll stay connected and online. You’ll need to be able to contact people and have constant access to mobile apps and services, like GPS, all around the clock, to stay safe.

Speaking of safety, some data providers are safer, whereas others may expose you to cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Below, we’re exploring the five main alternatives you have to stay connected while in Brazil, so you can return home without the regret of having left your online presence to chance.  

eSIMs for Unlimited Data and Predictable Costs

eSIM cards are among the most popular and convenient solutions for securing top-notch connectivity while traveling abroad, whether we talk about Brazil or other countries. Brazil, too, supports eSIM activity, offered both by its three key national operators and by various international eSIM providers. eSIM stands for embedded SIM and implies a remote activation of the cellular plan, so you’re no longer required to swap physical cards as you do with local or any type of physical SIMs.

Besides this convenience, installing the plan is infinitely easier, with reputable operators simplifying the process to several steps: you buy a plan, you scan a QR code or input a manual code before you leave home, and you’re good to go. You can even create multiple operator profiles and switch between them.

Roaming is unpredictable and local cards don’t offer unlimited data. But with eSIMs, you can choose the number of days you’ll need data, and renew a plan whenever you need. This technology is also known as safer compared to plastic SIMs because it leverages operator-grade security protocols, therefore eliminating some risks normally associated with physical cards, like unpermitted physical access, unauthorized cloning, and damage after all. Looking beyond the basics and cybersecurity, it’s also worth noting that with the Holafly eSIM option in Brazil, you can even share data with your group and use your phone as a hotspot tool.

Last but not least, your eSIM connection is only as secure as your own online habits. No matter which connectivity option you choose, make sure to practice basic cybersecurity while exploring online.

Local SIM cards from Authorised Retailers

There are three leading operators across Brazil, and they all have different establishments from which you can pick up a local SIM card. This is a commonly chosen option among those looking to take advantage of the local rates and pay less overall. You’ll receive a Brazilian local number with such a card, which may offer you access to some services. Theoretically, getting connected via a local SIM card should be easy. Nevertheless, it’s how you’ll communicate with salesclerks at physical shops that might raise some challenges, as you’ll need to find someone who speaks English or your native language, and that’s not always a walk in the park.

The safest way to buy a local card is to visit those carriers’ shops, ideally located in malls. You can also find dedicated kiosks and shops in the country’s larger airports. Whatever you choose, refrain from buying cards from unofficial sellers or street touts because otherwise, you might end up buying a fake or scam card.

It bears mentioning that not all vendors are aware of or care to follow the law regarding the sales of local SIM cards to foreigners. The law states that as a tourist, you only need your passport to buy such a chip. However, some representatives may still ask for that ID number, known as a C. P. F – often because the software requires it and they don’t know how or don’t want to bypass the requirement. But you can rapidly find another salesclerk who’s willing to use a workaround.

Pocket Wi-Fi Better Suited for Groups

Explore the world of pocket wi-fi and you’ll come across multiple other names for it: portable wi-fi boxes, pocket wi-fi routers, or even MiFi devices. This is a choice worth considering if you don’t mind adding another item to the list of things you’ll have to carry around. If you’re traveling with family or a crew with more devices, such as laptops, it might be a good fit. It’s basically a portable hotspot running on battery that you can rent from specialized sellers. It connects to local cellular networks and depending on product, you can connect up to 5 or 10 devices at the same time.

While this may sound convenient, you should understand your part of the commitment. It’s a physical device so you’ll have to keep it charged, prevent it from theft and damage, and return it at the end of your trip. Some fees will apply if you don’t return it in its initial condition – or if you don’t return it at all.

From a security standpoint, you should change the default wi-fi password and router admin password as soon as you plan on using the device. Brainless passwords make such devices easier to breach.

And don’t allow devices you don’t trust into your network. Should they be affected and successfully connected to yours, they might attack the portable wi-fi’s admin portal.

Use Caution While Using Roaming 

Brazil’s mobile services use GSM/UMTS networks that run on 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 megahertz. Because carriers around the world use different frequencies, you’ll need a phone that supports quad-band/multi-band.

With this box ticked, you should be aware of the fact that you might be paying quite a lot for the convenience you receive by using roaming, which applies to any country you may visit. Roaming is the surefire way to spike your bill through the roof, being also one of the costliest ways to stay connected abroad.

With roaming, too, you’ll need to use precaution when navigating online.

Free Public Wi-Fi – Navigate Carefully

Brazil’s biggest cities offer numerous free public Wi-Fi networks, which you can find mainly in plazas, hotels, malls, airports, and popular cafes. These options are available if you don’t have another backup plan. But the cyberthreat risk is there, with this Wi-Fi option notoriously known as one of the riskiest. Open networks aren’t generally that strongly encrypted, and this liability can make you vulnerable to a number of cybersecurity risks, such as making your data visible to hackers. Should you consider using public Wi-Fi in Brazil, follow safe online practices.

Connectivity in Brazil can vary from place to place – for instance, you may struggle in remote areas. That’s why you shouldn’t leave your connectivity and cybersecurity as afterthoughts.