Cyber Safety tips for Travel

The world has become a global village and traveling has become a regular part of life. Whether traveling for work or leisure, staying connected to the net is an essential part of every travel plan. It’s also essential that your internet-linked devices are safe from cyber threats while on the move. The chances of cybersecurity breaches increase as you travel since different countries vary in their cybersecurity laws.

Here are some cyber safety tips to keep your devices protected as you embark on your next journey:

Stay updated

Ensure that your device’s software is updated so that it can detect the latest malware and security bugs and stay protected from cyberattacks. You could also back up important information and photos to the cloud or a portable device in case of theft/loss of the device.

Public wireless networks

Using public Wi-Fi networks at airports, railway stations and parks, etc, is a common activity for travelers. However, it also makes them easy targets for cyber-criminals as these are unsecured connections. You should specifically avoid net banking on public networks. All-in-all, it’s best to stay off public networks and disable auto-connection to public networks.

VPN

Also known as Virtual Private Network, its always better to use secured VPNs when joining an unsecured public Wi-Fi network. A VPN enables your device to connect with a remote server and create a secure connection over public Wi-Fi. Once that is done, you can safely access your bank account or even some geo-blocked services that may be banned in the country you have traveled to.

Remote wiping

You should also turn on remote wiping on your device to keep your sensitive data safe from unauthorized users in case of theft/loss. This feature allows you to remotely lock, disable or erase your entire data from the device and enable automatic factory settings.

Tracking location

GPS-enabled devices are a blessing for travelers as they are a great help when navigating through new territories. On the other hand, it gives away your real-time location to cybercriminals and exposes you to cyber attacks. Turning off your Wi-Fi signal helps.

Passwords

And finally, having strong passwords helps keep your data and devices safe from cybercriminals anywhere.