As George Gershwin said: “It’s summertime and the livin’ is easy.” It also means many of us will be travelling. Whether that’s a road trip or flying, it’s important to stay secure while you roam away from home.
Be a smart packer:
- Only take required devices with you, and make sure they are fully updated.
- Lock your device with a unique PIN, password or passphrase.
- Set up and use multi-factor authentication for your devices, applications and accounts
- Back up your data before you leave.
Be a savvy traveller:
- Be mindful of your surroundings when using your devices in a public space – watch out for shoulder surfers and eavesdroppers.
- Don’t use public USB charging stations with a provided charging dock or cable, these may be unsafe. Always use your own charger cable and power adaptor.
- Keep your devices with you at all times – in a secured pocket, purse or backpack. Use secure facilities (i.e., a car trunk or hotel safe not a room safe) to store them if you can’t carry them with you.
- Stay protected while connected. Stop auto-connecting and make sure to use secure wi-fi connections (especially for sites and applications that require credentials).
- Play hard to get. Don’t make it easy for the bad guys by posting too much on social media. This lets thieves know your location and that you are out of town.
Give the July Travel Security Quiz a try to see if you are ready for the holidays.
More resources for safe and secure travels:
- Cyber security while travelling (Government of Canada)
- Cybersecurity Tips for a Safer Vacation