With no intent to interrupt the captivating tales of Abe and John's recent trans-continental journeys, I bring to your attention something to help comfort the rest of you in your travels. Many of you are probably already aware of the services offered by AnchorFree, a directory of free wi-fi hotspots around the world. However, this past summer they upped the ante in the free access world: free VPN access for any internet connection. Hit the jump to learn how to take advantage of this additional security...and why you should care.

Here are the facts, straight from the source:

Hotspot Shield helps secure your computer, your anonymity and your online communications when using free wi-fi. Hotspot Shield ...

-Ensures your computer remains anonymous and private when logged on to free wi-fi hotspots.
-Auto encrypts and protects inbound / outbound Internet traffic (email, instant messaging, VoIP calls, web surfing, etc.) as it's transmitted thru the air, using wi-fi.
-Thwarts wireless hackers keeping your personal data locked down while using an unsecured hotspot.
-Provides professional security and protection without expensive or complex requirements.

That's right, thanks to $6M in private funding, you can now download their software "Hotspot Shield" for free and enjoy the security offered through SSL tunneling from any airport, hotel, or coffee shop Wi-Fi (or wired) network in the world (see why worry about wi-fi security). Being that it's free, you owe it to yourself to try it out.