Our neighbour came over the other day and mentioned they were spending three months in Europe. She said she had read in Consumer magazine that installing a VPN app on her phone was a good idea for security reasons. I had have never really considered this was that important.  If you are want to do banking, etc while overseas would not using your bank's app, e.g. BNZ, be secure enough?  She isn't travelling to China where a VPN may allow you to access sites that are otherwise restricted there.

I get that you never do important stuff at Internet cafes, etc, but surely using your phone, along with the appropriate apps, should be secure. She has an Android phone if that makes a difference.  

What do others think? Is a VPN app a good idea?