If you’re traveling this summer, you’ll likely be taking a device or two with you, if not more. It’s important to keep an eye on your electronics and secure your connection at all times. The Better Business Bureau offers several cybersecurity tips to help protect your information as well as your cell phone, laptop, tablet, and other devices while traveling abroad.
Only take what you need. Do you need your mobile phone, tablet and laptop? It is best to limit yourself to the bare essentials, because all the devices you take with you need to be maintained.
Be careful how you charge your device. Portable chargers or wall outlets are best if you need to charge your device in a public space like a coffee shop or airport.
Avoid connecting directly to a public USB port, as this poses a risk of “juice jacking.” This occurs when someone fraudulently loads malware onto public USB charging stations. They gain access to electronic devices while they are charging and install malware through the compromised USB port. This can lock your device or export personal data and passwords directly to the perpetrator. Criminals can then use the stolen information to access online accounts or sell it to other malicious actors.
Consider bringing a power bank or purchasing a charge-only cable. If you need to plug your device directly into a public USB port and you see a prompt on your device asking you to select “share data,” “trust this computer,” or “charge only,” always select “charge only.”
Review your settings. Adjust your settings to prepare for your trip. Turn off the auto-connect feature to avoid connecting to questionable Wi-Fi hotspots while traveling. Turn on the “Find My Phone” feature so you can locate your device if it’s lost and turn it off if it’s stolen. Review the privacy and security settings for apps and web services and adjust them if necessary.
Always enable password protection. Make sure your devices require a password to unlock them. Use a strong password, PIN, fingerprint, or face scan to ensure that a stranger can’t unlock your device.
Keep your antivirus up to date. Before you leave, make sure your antivirus software is up to date on all your devices. Once you return home, run a scan to make sure you didn’t detect any malware during your trip.
Back up your files. Back up your photos, files, and other important digital data before and during your trip. This will help ensure you don’t lose your valuable information if your device is lost or stolen.
If you’re streaming, remember to sign out. If you sign in to a streaming service while you’re away from home, sign out before you leave. If you stay signed in, the next visitor to the space will not only be able to use your subscription, but they’ll also be able to access the admin controls to change your password or retrieve your payment information. If you realize you didn’t sign out after you get home, don’t panic. Visit the online streaming service, go to your account settings, and choose the option that lets you sign out on all devices.
Use secure Wi-Fi networks. Think carefully before using public Wi-Fi networks, especially if they aren’t password-protected. Never make purchases or log into accounts while on public Wi-Fi. Someone could be lurking nearby, hoping to access your connection and personal information. Wait until you can access a secure network to make important transactions. If you have a cellular connection, use your phone as a personal Wi-Fi hotspot.
The BBB offers several tips to keep in mind when setting strong passwords:
Create creative passwords. Try to create a password that is easy to remember but hard to crack. A good approach is to intersperse passphrases with numbers and symbols. Passphrases should be at least 12 characters long, and you should avoid common clichés like “AnAppleaDay.” Instead, choose a phrase that has personal meaning to you, such as “PlanetSpringsteenIsForMe,” and consider strengthening it with wildcards, such as “Pl@netSpring$teenIs4Me!”
Avoid using pet names, family names, maiden names, hometowns, birthdays, other important dates, or anything else that could be discovered about you by someone online. Also, never use easy-to-guess number sequences like “0000000” or “1234567.”
Once you create your new password, don't use the same password for multiple accounts, or a password that contains only a slight variation, especially for bank accounts, credit cards, legal or tax records, medical records, or other sensitive sites.
Here are some other suggestions to protect yourself and your personal information when you travel:
Set a travel alert on your financial accounts. Let your bank and credit card companies know that you’ll be using your money and cards in places that don’t fit your spending habits. If you’ve already set limits on your accounts, you’ll likely need to adjust your settings accordingly. Also, only carry what you need in your wallet when you travel.
Don’t share too much about your vacation plans on social media. Depending on your social media privacy settings and current connections, complete strangers may be able to see your posts and see that you’re away from home. Wait until you’re back before sharing vacation stories and photos.
Check for card-stealing devices. Card thieves are illegal card readers often attached to gas pumps or ATMs that retrieve data from a card’s magnetic stripe. Criminals use the stolen data to sell your information or use it to make purchases, often online. Watch for signs of card insertion difficulty or keypad tampering, but also keep a close eye on banking transactions, as crooks have developed smaller, harder-to-detect devices.
Protect your mail. Ask a trusted neighbor or family member to collect your mail and monitor delivered packages. Consider having packages temporarily sent to a neighbor’s address. If you don’t have someone to collect your mail daily, consider putting it on hold while you’re away.
You can reach your BBB at 423-266-6144 or by email at tngabbb@chattanooga.bbb.org.
Michele Mason is president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga.
