Like most of you, we love to travel. Whether you’re going on an adventure, working abroad, or just going somewhere for a relaxing vacation, you need to stay connected to the people back home.
Thankfully, you can connect to the online world at the push of a button, from email to social media, online banking, and even remote working while traveling. However, we all know today that digital convenience comes with cyber risks.
10 essential cybersecurity tips for a stress-free travel adventure
Today, let’s take a closer look at the top 10 cybersecurity tips to keep your digital life safe and stress-free while exploring the world.
1. Strong passwords: your first line of defense
Your account is only as secure as your password. Use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Even better, have a password manager generate and store complex passwords for you. This way, you don’t have to remember passwords for every online shop or booking site you use, and even if one site is compromised, the rest of your accounts remain safe.
At a minimum, make sure your password for your primary site, such as your email, is unique. Email is often an alternative way to reset passwords for all other sites, so it’s important to keep your email account secure. Of course, you don’t have to keep your banking password unique.
2. Safe Online Transactions: Pay Wisely
Whether you want to surf the web or check your account balance, use a VPN like these. cyber ghost When conducting online transactions or handling sensitive information.
A VPN creates a secure connection between your device and the site you’re dealing with. This means that neither the provider nor the device between you and the site can see what information is being passed. Whether it’s personal photos, banking data, or daily news clips, no one knows what’s being passed on except you and the site you’re getting the information from.
3. Keep your software up to date: Don’t ignore update alerts
Sure, update notifications can be annoying, but they’re critical to your security. Software updates often include patches for security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. It may be a hassle, but please understand that most of them are for your own protection.
4. Be mindful of your social media sharing: Don’t give away too much.
We know it’s tempting to share every moment of your tropical vacation, but sharing too much can make you a target for thieves and scammers. Please consider sharing when you return and always check your privacy settings.
Herein lies the greatest danger of social media. Adding “friends” who aren’t your friends or posting too private information like your home address on a public site can lead to a robbery right after you post your absence. Thankfully, it’s not that common, but online scammers are looking for any way to make a profit, and they don’t care if you get hurt in the process. If you value your safety, keep your private matters private.
5. Protect your device: Lock it
Prevent theft by simply setting up a PIN or fingerprint lock on your phone or tablet. Also, consider using or enabling tracking software to locate lost or stolen devices. Most devices come with this and you just need to enable it.
I know it’s hard to set up a complicated PIN, but I know dozens of people who use 0000 or 1111 as their phone PIN. All it takes is for him to get pickpocketed once, or for a second to look away and leave his phone on the table, or for him to leave his phone in his bag on the beach and find someone else while he’s dozing next to it. It just falls into the hands of.
Those who prey on the misfortune of others know the most common pins and try them first. While you’re scrambling to lock your phone (and find it missing), thieves are already surfing your phone, copying your photos, stealing your emails, and accessing your social media. Destroy and collect information. Don’t allow something as simple as setting (them) four random numbers to make their job so much easier.
6. Phishing scams: Stay alert
You should be suspicious of unsolicited emails or messages that request personal information, even if they are legitimate. If in doubt, contact the company directly through official channels and never respond directly to emails or unsolicited messages in the form of his SMS (text).
It is often difficult to identify whether a message comes from a trusted source. The phone number may be spoofed and the return address may appear legitimate. However, the one truth in cybersecurity is that it is continually evolving, and today’s rules may not apply tomorrow.
The easiest way to check if something is legitimate is to call the number of the bank or company you believe is making the inquiry. Do not respond directly to the number or email in question. Even if you go directly to the site, you’ll see options like online chat and callback numbers to make your life easier.
2. Two-factor authentication: double your security
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security. Even if someone cracks your password, they will need her second code (usually sent to your phone) to access your account. He enables 2FA on important accounts like email and banking, as well as sites that store credit card information.
An additional piece of wisdom is to make sure you have an alternative method of 2FA authentication, such as email or an authenticator app, if you’re out of the country and don’t have access to the SMS text code. We use both the Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator apps because they’re free, easy to use, and work with most sites.
8. Data Logger: Don’t Eavesdrop
Do not use public computers for financial operations or anything else you consider necessary to maintain security. A VPN keeps your online connection safe, but it’s also important to know that the computer you’re using isn’t itself at risk.
Over the years, we’ve heard stories of people who have fallen prey to this scam. You walk into an Internet cafe, pay an hourly rate, sit down and use your computer. It also has a VPN, so I think it’s safe. Once your hour-long session is over, wake up, make sure you’re logged out of any sites you were logged into, and shut down your computer.
The problem is that you have a keylogger connected to your device or installed in your software that captures every keystroke you type. With a little work, hackers can track where you go and what you type (even your passwords and IDs), and can use that information to break in as they see fit. It would be nice if you could set up 2FA to notify you when something like this happens, but if your device has permissions granted, it may still be on your allow list. It’s best to avoid that scenario completely and not use public computers for anything important.
9. Back up your data: Don’t lose your precious memories
Regular backups ensure you don’t lose important documents or precious travel photos even if your device is lost, stolen, or damaged. We’ve always used his three rules for valuable things, from photos to documents to emails.
The first is the device itself, such as a mobile phone, laptop, or camera. If it originates from there, it stays there. The second is an online backup solution. These are quick and easy to set up on almost any device and can be uploaded to the cloud within minutes of being generated, as long as you have a Wifi connection.
The third and final backup is always a hard-coded offsite backup. This happens when you return from a long trip or when enough time has passed that you feel you need it. Offsite is guaranteed to withstand everything from fire to theft, and while online backups are easy, it never hurts to take additional security measures.
10. Research local scams: Know before you go
Each destination has its own digital dangers. It never hurts to do a quick search for common scams in the area you’re visiting. This includes everything from credit card skimming (the process of setting up additional scanners on bank machines and gas pumps to copy information) to creating fake Wi-Fi zones designed to steal data as it passes through. It can include anything up to and including use. (That’s why a VPN is essential for him when traveling.)
Stay Cyber Safe!
Remember that staying safe online is an ongoing journey, just like traveling. By following these tips, you can focus on enjoying your trip and not on digital troubles.
Have fun exploring safely!
