Cybersecurity Risks While Traveling: 19 Tips for Cyber Safety

Cybersecurity risks increase when you’re on vacation or traveling for business. From unsecured wireless networks to physical theft, threats abound when you take your phone, laptop, tablet, and other devices on the go.

Whether you’re unwinding on vacation or grabbing your laptop to attend a work conference, follow these 19 cyber safety guidelines to keep your personal and business information safe from prying eyes.

Top Cyber Threats While Traveling

Some of the most common cybersecurity threats you, your employees, and your business may face while traveling include:

• Unsecured wireless networks: Free Wi-Fi at airports, hotels, and cafés may be convenient, but these networks are rarely secure. On an unsecured network, attackers can intercept the data you send and receive, which means anything you access can be exposed.
• Publicly accessible computers: Shared machines, such as the ones located in hotel business centers, may be loaded with keyloggers or malware that capture everything you type, including passwords and other personal information. With no way to verify programs running in the background, avoid entering credentials or accessing confidential documents on any device you don’t control.
• Physical theft of devices: Laptops, phones, and tablets become easy targets when you’re distracted or on the move, and a stolen device in the wrong hands can lead to exposure of every account and sensitive file it holds. Keep any devices you bring with you locked away, enable full-disk encryption, and make sure you use strong passwords or a biometric lock.

10 Cyber Safety Tips for Travel

Share these tips with your employees to make everyone’s vacations and business travel cyber-safe:

Before You Go

1. Travel with fewer devices. If you don’t need it, leave your laptop at home.
2. Only take the credit cards and IDs you need. Leave other cards in a secure location at home.
3. Install the latest updates. Before your trip, make sure you aren’t leaving your phone or laptop vulnerable to security breaches.
4. Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA). By requiring an authenticator app or code from another device to log in, you keep your accounts safer.
5. Turn on “find my” features. This is a good way to keep track of device locations. However, only share your location with people you trust.
6. Review privacy and location settings. While you’re traveling, disable location tracking for apps that don’t require it.
7. Back up your data. This will help you recover important files if you lose your device.
8. Turn off auto-connect. Disable automatic connections to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so your device doesn’t connect to unsafe networks in airports or hotels.
9. Opt in to receive fraud alerts from your credit card companies. To avoid accidentally triggering a fraud response, you may need to tell your bank that you’ll be out of town, though some banks no longer require notice.

While You’re Away

1. Think before you post. Sharing real-time vacation updates on social media can show potential burglars that your home is empty. Limit who can see your posts by keeping your account private and only accepting friend requests from people you trust.
2. Avoid unsecured public Wi-Fi networks. Though public Wi-Fi is generally safe these days, it’s a good idea to use a mobile hotspot or set up a virtual private network (VPN). If you’re staying at a rental house, you may also consider using your own hotspot instead of the Wi-Fi network, especially if you plan to shop, bank, or work online.
3. When taking part in these activities, only use websites that begin with https://.
4. Keep devices secure in your hotel. Lock them in a hotel safe if you don’t need to take them with you.
5. Avoid public computers. Using a public computer in your hotel lobby or an internet café is fine for a quick Google search, but you shouldn’t log in to your personal accounts.
6. Only use debit cards to make withdrawals from secure ATMs. If you need cash, be sure to only use ATMs located inside reputable banks.
7. Keep tabs on your devices when not in use. Never leave them unattended or unlocked.

After You Get Home

1. Review your accounts for unusual activity. For a few weeks after your trip, monitor your bank apps, email, and social media accounts. Watch for unfamiliar logins, charges, or password reset emails.
2. Delete apps you no longer need, such as transit, event, or travel apps. Fewer apps means fewer places where your data is stored.
3. Avoid public charging stations. Cyber criminals can use these to access your private data. Travel with your own power bank instead.

Cyber Insurance for Businesses

If you’re looking to insure your business against cyber attacks, learn more about cyber insurance and talk to an agent at C&S Insurance today.