If you are like most people today, you have been working hard and now it is time to take a trip. You might be going on an extended vacation with family or just on a quick weekend getaway. Wherever you are going, you will want to make the most of it and get the rest and relaxation that you have been craving. At the same time, there is a lot of stress that can go into traveling today. You will want to do all that you can to minimize that.
Some steps that you take must be to minimize your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft. The risk is perhaps even more prevalent when traveling than when you are at home, so here are some tips to help you protect yourself.
Update All of Your Devices
If you really want to protect yourself from a cyberattack while traveling, you will want to make sure that all of your technological devices are regularly updated. These updates typically contain critical security enhancements that are aimed at thwarting the efforts of would-be criminals. You do not want to leave yourself unprotected.
Make Sure Your WiFi is Disabled
Believe it or not, WiFi networks are a haven for criminals. Many of the free WiFi spots that you might use when traveling are unsecured. You want to avoid using them if at all possible. When you are home, you might have the WiFi automatically connect because you are on a secured network. However, being away from home is a different story.
You will want to disable the WiFi so that it will not connect automatically. When traveling domestically, it is helpful to have an unlimited data plan so that you do not incur roaming charges. Staying off unprotected WiFi networks will help you from a security perspective. When you are in an area that has a secure network, such as your hotel room, you can always enable the WiFi manually once again.
Bring Extra Batteries or Power Banks
Many places that you travel to today will have public charging stations for your mobile devices and computers. Stay away from these unless it is an emergency. Some criminals can jack the juice from the charging stations, effectively emptying your computer of critical information and putting it into the hands of the wrong person. Combat this by charging up each morning in your hotel room and taking an extra battery or power bank with you.
Secure Your Passwords
If you are like most people today, you have a password storage app on your phone. This is great for you, but even better for criminals. Make sure that it is well protected so that only you can gain access to it. This will prove helpful in the event that your phone becomes lost or misplaced.
These four tips will help you to keep your personal information out of the hands of would be criminals while you are traveling. Remember that you will be in unfamiliar surroundings. Your hotel room and other areas while traveling might not be as secure as you are used to. Following these few pieces of advice will allow you to enjoy your trip and be able to use your technological devices without having to worry.
