15 Jun Cybersecurity Tips for Summer Travel

Whether you’re planning a summer trip or need to travel for work purposes, protecting your data is important. Traveling is a busy, stressful time with extensive planning involved. Therefore, personal data security is the last thing on your mind.

Unfortunately, travel invites a host of cybersecurity risks for several reasons. There are numerous unsecured connections available while on the go. You’re outside of a secure home environment. And, the devices you bring may not have the same security devices as personal home hardware.

Thankfully, when you’re on the go, there are several steps you can take to keep your data, internet security, and files safe during summer travel.

Summer Travel Cybersecurity Essentials

When you plan to travel for summer, what electronic essentials will you take? Smartphone, laptop, and/or tablet? These are the devices you need to secure and have their own unique requirements for ideal data protection. Once you have an essential itinerary of what you’re taking, you can better practice healthy travel cybersecurity habits.

Tip #1 – Don’t Trust Every Hotspot

Wifi hotspots are abound when traveling, either at rest stops, hotels, and restaurants. But if you didn’t already know, publicly available wireless hotspots are not always safe. They lack encryption and typical security thresholds leading to exposed data. In rare cases, malicious actors can create false wifi hotspots that, after connecting, steal user information.

If you plan to use available wifi hotspots, do so without accessing important credentials and/or limiting sensitive information.

Tip #2 – Limit Social Media

Depending on your summer travel plans, it’s not always the best strategy to make expansive social media posts about what you’re planning to do, where you are, or where you’re going. Threat actors can use this information to create context-sensitive phishing messages. Furthermore, it boosts your home security, as making extensive online posts about your whereabouts can leave your personal property at risk.

Tip #3 – Update All Relevant Apps

All your software, apps, and applications should be updated to their latest version. This will ensure hackers or malicious parties can’t take advantage of exploits. There’s nothing worse than losing access to an app or critical software while on the go during summer travel.

Tip #4 – Disable Autoconnect On Relevant Devices

Autoconnect is a feature utilized with mobile devices to, unsurprisingly, connect to available wifi networks or other internet features. But again, with the security issues presented by public wifi and unsecured networks, you want to make sure a connection is safe before accessing the web. Automatic connections can passively expose your important data while traveling, so ensure these features are off on all devices.

Tip #5 – Backup All Critical Data

It is imperative you keep backups of all data before summer travel. Whether on external media like a flash drive or SSD, keeping a copy of files, media, and important data prevents loss. Business operations should consider mandating a backup requirement for their information.

Losing data while traveling can result in complete information loss with little or no means to recover it. Therefore, practice extra safety by preserving all the data you need.

Tip #6 – Access Only Trusted Domains

Another way to protect your information while traveling for the summer is to access only trusted domains and websites. These trusted domains have encryption and additional security features. Unknown or unfamiliar websites can either leak or siphon information. Where possible, only access these websites on secure or trusted connections, such as banking or social media websites.

Tip #7 – Utilize a VPN

Finally, you can utilize the service of VPNs to encrypt your data if you’re concerned about unsafe connection sources. VPNs also allow you to access services or websites during travel that may be inaccessible otherwise, especially if you’re traveling internationally.

While all VPNs vary, it’s an easy way to encrypt your information. VPNs are available for mobile devices as well, depending on what devices you plan to use.

Need additional help?

Even with the best intent and thorough planning, summer traveling invites numerous risks to our personal and professional cybersecurity. Therefore, it’s important to reach out for help when you need it. If your enterprise wants to tighten up mobile and travel-based cybersecurity, Bytagig can help.

For more information, contact us today.