Protect your Data while Traveling

Tips and Tricks Cybersecurity 2018-08-18 17:06:00 - by Rachel Lee

Traveling is surely fun! The places you see, the pictures you’ll take and the food you’ll eat! Everything sounds exciting. But it could also be a source of stress especially when your personal data is compromised before or during your trip. Traveling, from preparations to communications and social media, can often expose you to some data privacy risks you might not expect.

We depend more and more on electronic gadgets as technology develops in order to remain in touch, share our experiences, and access crucial information while on the road. The ease of utilizing our gadgets while traveling, however, also puts our privacy and personal information at danger. Our sensitive information may be exposed through public Wi-Fi, foreign networks, or even physical theft, making us susceptible to identity theft and cybercrime.

In order to keep your data while traveling, we must be proactive. This entails connecting to secure networks, creating strong passwords, avoiding using public computers and charging stations, and maintaining the most recent security patches on our devices. We can also avoid falling for cybercriminals' tricks by being aware of frequent frauds and social engineering techniques they employ. By adopting these precautions, we can make sure that even when we are away from home, our personal and professional data is secure and protected.

If you are traveling, ensure the following simple tips.

Make sure all devices have passcodes and encrypted

A lot of cases have already been reported about travelers losing their devices like mobile phones or tablets or laptops during vacation, either stolen or lost. Often your device is a goldmine for personal data that can be used for identity theft and fraud. In order to avoid thieves from accessing these data, ensure to set a string password on your device and check if it’s encrypted. A two-step authentication code on everything is helpful so as not to compromise your apps.

Guard your important documents

Wallets and passports. Your wallet should always be safe because you know you’ll be ruining your vacation if you walk everywhere without your credit card, security ID, and driver’s license. Even worse, if you lose your passport. Make copies of all these important documents and keep them at your fingertips. You can also take a picture of these items and lock them up in a safety digital vault. Just don’t lose your phone!

Get a cheap burner phone

Protecting your data and personal information should be a primary consideration when traveling. Consider switching from your pricey, high-end gadget to a less expensive smartphone or "burner phone" as one approach to achieve this.

While traveling, the chance of data privacy breaches can be greatly decreased by using a burner phone. Inexpensive smartphones are less desirable to potential thieves, making them less likely to target them for theft. They are also more economical. Therefore, the loss won't be as severe if your burner phone is stolen or lost as it would be if it were your expensive handset.

Using a cheap smartphone or burner phone also eliminates the need to be concerned about utilizing hotel Wi-Fi or connecting to unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, which are both susceptible to hacking and data breaches. To access the internet, you can instead buy a local SIM card or utilize the data plan on your phone. This can be quite helpful when visiting places with spotty or nonexistent Wi-Fi.

Cheap smartphones are always easy to bring around and relatively less risky compared to your expensive ones. If you need to call or text for communication and get basic access to the internet, you can be less exposed to data privacy risks with a burner phone.

Only Use Password Protected Wi-Fi

Internet is always helpful, especially in case of emergency. Public WIFI could be a potential source of data privacy risk, but if you really need to connect, make sure you choose a network with password protection and not the public free WIFI. Make sure to log out of your emails / social media after using it. Learn more now How To Increase WIFI Security.

Use a VPN

It is always safer to use VPN to make sure that your browsing and other activities are private and secured, especially when you travel and try to get access from an airport, hotel, or café. Also, log out of any personal accounts after using them.

When traveling, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a quick and easy way to guarantee your online security and privacy. Usually, most of your traffic through internet is routed in a secure server while using a VPN. This protocol will make it very difficult for cybercriminals and hackets to access your information; preventing you from long waits and legal stress.

While using public Wi-Fi hotspots like hotels, airports, or cafés, extra caution should be used because these networks are usually unsecure and hence open to attack. You may browse the internet securely while shielding your private information and sensitive data from prying eyes by utilizing a VPN. Check these VPN options.

By following these very simple tips, you can add a layer of protection for yourself and have peace of mind while wandering around.

Conclusion

In conclusion, traveling is unquestionably an amazing experience that broadens our perspectives on other people, civilizations, and ways of life. We must remember, though, that doing so might put us at danger of data privacy breaches, which could spoil our trip and damage our personal and professional data. We must thus take proactive steps to protect our electronic devices, passwords, and vital papers. Using a cheap burner phone is a smart idea in order to stay away from unprotected public Wi-Fi networks that are prone to hacking and data breaches. Also, employing a VPN is a great approach to guarantee the privacy and security of our internet surfing and other activities.

We may give ourselves an extra layer of defense and feel at ease when exploring using these straightforward methods. To guarantee that we can travel without fear or anxiety, it is crucial to protect our data privacy. Always exercise caution, vigilance, and common sense when utilizing technological devices and the internet. Travel well and have fun!