Staying safe online while traveling is incredibly important. Here are 7 tips to help you keep all of your personal and financial information secure, no matter where you’re heading. I’m grateful to have traveled a lot and have learned the hard way that joining an open Wi-Fi network isn’t always a great idea. From securing your connections to safeguarding your data, here are 7 tips that have kept me and my family cyber-safe on the go. Because let’s face it, the only thing we want to bring back from our travels are memories, not malware. This post is all about staying safe online while traveling.
Consider using a VPN
We should limit how much information we share online, especially if we are using public networks. Caught in a bind with only public Wi-Fi at hand? Then, you should seriously consider a VPN. A VPN stands for “virtual private network” and it establishes a digital connection between your computer and a VPN provider. This encrypts your personal data and masks your IP address.
When you examine the VPN vs firewall debate and how they fare against each other, you’ll see that when it comes to traveling, a VPN is absolutely critical.
Be cautious when paying
It is important to be cautious of any ATMs or card readers you use to avoid any potential skimming devices. Some destinations might be safer than others, however, for this reason, it is always recommended to pay either by cash or by tapping your card. If the only option is to pay by inserting your card, make sure to inspect card readers for any signs of tampering.
This goes without saying, but unless you’re in the US, where it is common practice for waiters to take your card when it’s time to pay the bill, you should always expect the waiter to bring the card reader to you.
Limit your browsing to trusted websites
SSL certification is the norm for websites, providing an extra layer of security. While browsing on the go, it’s easy to miss whether a site uses HTTPS. Always look for “https” at the start of a URL; the ‘s’ signifies that the site has a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate, ensuring your data is encrypted as it travels from your browser to the website’s server.
As an online business owner, I know first-hand that having an SSL certificate is a requirement for website hosting services. The lack of the “s” in the URL means that anyone could be tracking that interaction and accessing your data.
Consider configuring your devices for remote wiping
Remote wiping is a security feature that allows the owner of a device to remotely delete data from a device. This is used to erase information on a device that’s been lost or stolen. If you need to keep secure information on your phone or computer while you are out and about, this can be a lifesaver!
Related: 12 Useful Tips to Avoid Overpacking When Traveling
Keep your devices up-to-date
It sounds like a no-brainer, but ensuring that everything has the latest software updates is extremely important. This includes app updates, antivirus software, and operating systems.
Enable two-factor authentication
This is something simple, but it truly can make a big difference. Enabling two-factor authentication just adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts, like email, social media, and banking. Even if someone gets hold of your password, they won’t be able to access your account without the second verification step, which is usually a code sent to your phone or generated by an app. It can be a pain having to do the two steps every time you’re logging into an account, but better be safe than sorry.
Stay away from public charging stations
There is something called “juice jacking”, which I think it’s such a funny name but it is a serious threat. It happens when malicious software is installed on your device or data is secretly copied from it while you’re using a public USB port for charging.
This sucks because what if your phone dies and you have no idea how to get back to the hotel. However, it is better to be safe than sorry. You should always have a portable charger on you. I have one that is tiny, light, fits everything, and charges my phone back to 100% battery.
When we travel, we’re mostly concerned with our itinerary and physical safety, so most of us tend to overlook our online safety. These 7 tips to stay safe online while traveling are simple and can make a massive difference. No one wants to end their vacation, only to realize all of their personal data and sensitive information was stolen.
