Thinking of traveling over the next few weeks? One of the greatest things about summer is going on vacation. Planning your vacation takes time and work. Pre-trip anticipation makes many vacation goers forget practical aspects of pre-trip planning. Apart from choosing the right clothes to match the weather and packing the needed travel documents, travelers should know the importance of cybersecurity when they travel.
The Dangers of Public Wi-Fi Connection
Little do many travelers know that they run a higher cybersecurity risk when traveling overseas. Using public Wi-Fi hotspots increases a user’s chances of being hacked or losing their personally identifiable information and credit card information. Public Wi-Fi hotspots at airports or a local Starbucks are definitely convenient when traveling. However, the security of a WPA2 protocols in most Wi-Fi networks makes them vulnerable to wide range of attacks. Because of this, a hacker could easily insert themselves between the Wi-Fi network and your device. This allows them to browse through the traffic of all users connected to the free public Wi-Fi network, paving the way for data theft. Precious information like passwords, credit card numbers, chat messages, photos, and videos could be stolen from mobile devices and laptop computers.
If this doesn’t sound scary enough, attackers could use proof-of-concept exploit like Key Reinstallation Attacks (KRACK) to inject dangerous ransomware or malware in the device. In other cases, attackers have been able to break into the network configuration to manipulate data and inject malware into websites. The dangers of poor network connection do not only harm user devices but also to various websites they access.
Cybersecurity Travel Tips
It’s usually tempting to connect to the public Wi-Fi at the airport or hotel lobby especially when traveling abroad. If you really must check your email or credit card balance on vacation, make sure your Wi-Fi connection is turned off. Most mobile devices keep their Wi-Fi connection turned on as a default.
If you don’t have roaming and your only option is connecting to the public Wi-Fi connections in restaurants, cafes, malls, and hotels, use a VPN. Virtual Private Networks (VPN) are a great way to enhance your online security. First of all, it creates a barrier between your device and the Wi-Fi network. VPNs not only allow you to hide your IP address to stream your favorite sports and shows in your hotel room, it also boosts your device’s protection against attacks because a VPN encrypts your connection to protect your privacy and protects the information you send over the network.
Another way to increase your device’s protection when you travel include turning off your sharing setting. Most smartphone users keep their sharing settings turned on when they’re at home or at work to make file transfer easier. However, the price for convenience is way too high when using the airport public Wi-Fi hotspot to upload your vacation photos or check your email while waiting for a flight. Always make sure that sites you visit only HTTPS websites to ensure your device’s security on the web. In contrast to HTTP websites, HTTPS offers an additional layer of protection for users.
Users who frequently access their emails and online banks while traveling should consider turning on their 2-factor authentication for all their login credentials on their accounts to increase their account protection when traveling. Make sure firewalls are turned on all devices before traveling. Have you updated recently? It may be time to download the newest iOS or Android OS on your smartphone or tablet. Updating your OS may be the best way to protect your mobile device and it could also lead to hassle-free travel by avoiding slow update downloads from your hotel room’s Wi-Fi. Taking a proactive approach to protecting personal devices is the best way to make sure they’re safe when you travel.
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. Set up PIN protection for all devices you or your family take on a vacation. In fact, McAfee and One Poll found that one out of three Americans don’t password protect their devices. Password protection is the most basic form of cybersecurity a device owner could do to guarantee personal data safety. Many devices allow users to protect their data by allowing them to erase the data when the number of password trials have exceeded. Because our smartphones store almost all our passwords and credit cards, turning on this function may help give you peace of mind when traveling.
Afterthoughts for International Cybersecurity
When traveling abroad, your mobile device is as important as your wallet or your passport because it often is your lifeline when navigating through the challenges of a long-distance vacation. Because of their usefulness, your smartphone is a treasure trove of personally identifiable information, credit card and bank information, passwords, and memories. In many cases, these devices are much more important than the contents of your wallet or your suitcase. It may be helpful to prepare a cybersecurity checklist before you travel and make sure your family and loved ones use the checklist too before leaving home for the airport. Nevertheless, don’t let the cybersecurity risks of traveling rain on your summer vacation. Follow a few simple rules and boost your devices’ cyber security and have a worry free vacation. Happy Travels from Infranet Solutions!