If you travel frequently, you’ll know just how much modern tech has eased the entire journey. Tools and innovations such as navigation apps, digital boarding passes, and having a world of entertainment at our fingertips has turned much of the logistics of taking a trip into a seamless (and sometimes even fun) process. But there are risks – bringing your devices and laptops along could result in them being compromised, lost or hacked. Read on for some practical steps that will help keep your tech and personal data safe, whether you’re heading to the next town, across the country or overseas.
Pack smart and prepare your tech before you leave
A device is only really safe if you leave it at home. So, only pack what you need – usually this would be your smartphone, a pair of headphones and maybe a laptop or tablet if you need to do work. Fewer devices mean fewer potential points of failure. Remember to back up everything to an encrypted cloud service or external drive before you leave the house. Go through your apps and remove those that you won’t need. Also, disable ‘always on’ features like Bluetooth, NFC and location sharing. As part of your pre-travel checklist, update your passwords and credentials (especially for banking accounts), store emergency contacts offline, and bring your own charging cables to avoid reliance on public USB ports.
Public WiFi risks: Secure your connection and network access
It’s almost impossible to avoid using public WiFi when you’re at the airport, in a café, or staying in a hotel. But it’s still one of the biggest cybersecurity risks. Hackers can create fake hotspots with seemingly trustworthy names like ‘FreeAirport WiFi’, intercept traffic or deploy malware. USB charging stations can hide ‘juice jacking’ hardware that will steal your data the moment you plug in. If you must connect on the go, route your traffic through a secure VPN for iPhone to shield sensitive information and block hostile networks.
Protect your devices and data from theft or loss
Aside from connectivity, you also need to keep your devices out of the wrong hands. Put phones and tablets inside zipped bags rather than in your pockets (especially in busy train stations or markets). Hotels will often provide safes or lockboxes where you can store laptops and cameras. Strong passcodes and biometrics area are a must in case your device does end up being lost or stolen, but note that border agents in some countries can legally request access to your device so only store information that you’d be comfortable sharing. Turn off WiFi and Bluetooth autoconnect, and encrypt all devices. Add an extra layer of data protection with remote-wipe tools that you can activate if the device goes missing.
Update your tech and have an incident response plan
While you’re still at home, take a few minutes to update your operating systems, apps and firmware. Vendors usually release patches to close known security gaps. Once you’re on the road, regularly check your accounts for unusual logins and review device notifications for alerts that something isn’t right. And stay prepared with an incident plan for when you notice something is amiss – this includes knowing how to freeze bank cards, trigger remote-wipe, restore backups and contacting your cell phone provider if your SIM is cloned. Modern travel involves being part of a travel-tech ecosystem that is increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, so anticipating issues saves time and stress.
Make tech safety part of your travel routine
You don’t have to worry about your devices every minute of your trip. But tech safety does matter more than ever. With just a little preparation (smart packing, securing connections and strengthening device protection), you can travel confidently and keep your tech secure wherever you go.
