The internet is a beautiful thing, but it can also be dangerous. If you’re planning to go on an extended trip soon, there are some precautions you should take before you leave home. This blog post will discuss five online privacy and security tips for travelers.
We all know the list of tasks you must complete before leaving is lengthy enough as it is, but this is critical. There are new and unusual cyber-security risks all around the world, and you need to be prepared for anything that may come your way on the road, whether it’s your laptop or simply your trusty smartphone.
In other words, it’s essential to keep a level head when traveling. After all, if something were to ruin your trip more quickly than having to contact your bank in the middle of the night to ensure that a foreign adversary hasn’t hacked your account, what would it be?
Use VPNs
It’s simple to use the internet safely at home, but when you’re traveling, you’ll have no option but to rely on unsecured networks or ones that you don’t own or control. Most VPN providers support IPV6 because ipv6 has advantages over ipv4 in different technical ways.
It implies that anything you do on those networks may be monitored, and the data you send could be read and stolen. If you ever intended to catch an Uber or Lyft, check your travel account, make a reservation, or perform any other task that involves sensitive information, this might cause some issues.
A VPN is a must-have for any trip since it encrypts your data on every network you connect to and prevents prying eyes from seeing what you’re doing online.
You can also use it to bypass geo-blocks and censorship, which might be helpful if you want to keep up with your favorite shows but find they’re inaccessible where you’re visiting. Just remember that you must not connect to any Wi-Fi networks unless your VPN is switched on!
Turn off Bluetooth
You can use Bluetooth to link your devices together, but it might also be exploited by hackers to access your device without permission, even if you have a VPN. There’s no need to keep it on after you’ve left home unless you genuinely need it, so turn it off before leaving and only turn it back on if necessary.
Scan for viruses
That should go without saying: we’re a security firm. However, every device you bring with you should contain the most up-to-date and powerful antivirus to ensure that no malware can gain access to your data and ruin your holiday. But you don’t just want a decent antivirus; you also want one that’s up to date with the most recent software.
Update your software
It’s no secret that outdated software exposes your devices to risk from hackers and malware. Out-of-date software is one of the most frequently used attack vectors in modern malware, suggesting that even if you’re not going anywhere, you should upgrade your software as soon as possible.
When you travel, though, you’re more inclined to take chances like connecting to public Wi-Fi or visiting websites you aren’t familiar with, which can put you at risk of being a phishing victim. Maintaining your software up to date will help reduce those dangers and prevent the next major Ransomware scare.
Anti-theft security
Pickpocketing is a severe problem in most cities, which can be deadly if you’re abroad and reliant on your phone for necessities like food or medical help. While common sense will go a long way toward preventing theft (keep it in your front pocket, don’t leave your bag unguarded), there are some things you should do.
There are precautions you can take to ensure that crooks don’t get the opportunity to exploit you: if your phone is ever taken out of your pocket, apps like Pocket Sense will make a loud noise, which will only be silenced when you unlock your phone.
That is, as long as your password or PIN isn’t simple to guess, you’ll always know if some diabolical scoundrel attempts to pull a fast one on you.
Additional tips
Scammers adore travelers since you are wide-eyed and exploring a new environment for the first time, making you especially susceptible to deceptive criminals looking to take advantage of your goodwill, trust, or divided attention.
Fortunately, these creeps are usually on the lookout for easy prey: so a little planning and awareness will generally be enough to avoid most types of problems. Different swindles are more common depending on where you go; nevertheless, when out and about, it’s simple to identify.
That was probably the most challenging part of this whole project. Seriously, then, when you’re ready to go out and explore the world — or stroll down the street since you’ll be secure no matter where you travel.
