Travel Cyber Security Alert: How to Get Secure WiFi When Traveling

Everyone has been waiting to travel again. Whether you enjoy a day trip to the beach or an extended business trip in a foreign country, travel-safety considerations are more important than ever. The extensive use of cell phones everywhere we go has added another category of things we need to protect while traveling. Airports, train stations, hotels and just about anywhere public WiFi and cell service are available are targets for cybercriminals. We all do our best to keep our luggage safe while traveling. So why wouldn’t we want to be extra careful in protecting our personal data stored on our phones and laptops? Traveling makes all our connected devices more vulnerable when using them away from home.

Travel Cyber Security

It is imperative to take proactive steps to secure your devices before leaving home. Here are some simple steps to take in preparation for traveling:

• Remove as Much Sensitive Data as Possible – Remove as much of the most sensitive data as possible from your devices before traveling.
• Back Up All Your Files – It is crucial that you have a clean backup of all your data before leaving home. If your devices are hacked while you’re away, the backup will ensure that you’ll be able to restore your untainted data once your devices are cleaned.
• Make Sure Your Software is Up to Date – Updates often contain security fixes from the software developers. So keeping them up to date might help fend off cyberattacks.
• Create Strong Passwords – Before traveling, it is wise to check your passwords and make them all as strong as possible. Strong passwords are the first line of defense against cybercrimes.

Being prepared for safe travel doesn’t mean one can be reckless while traveling. We must still be vigilant. You will know quickly if your physical device is stolen. However, cybercriminals trying to steal your passwords to compromise your private data might not be as obvious. Here are some valuable tips:

• Do Not Use Public WiFi For Making Online Purchases or Bank Transactions
• Change All Your Passwords – Do not use the same passwords or PINs overseas that you use at home.
• Try Logging In and Out of Public WiFi – Logging in and out can make your devices more of a “moving target” for hackers, and if you try entering the wrong password and can still log on, it could be a sign that your device has been compromised.
• Before Logging On to a Public WiFi Network – Turn off the “Auto-Join” function on your phone, so you can be sure to log on only to the network you want.
• Consider Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) – Before an extensive trip, you might want to get a cyber risk analysis by IT professionals and consider installing a VPN before leaving.

What to Do if Your Phone is Hacked

After recovering from the initial shock and vulnerability felt after being hacked, there are some immediate steps to be taken:

• Check for Suspicious Apps – Check your apps in “Settings” and delete any apps you don’t remember coming with your phone or being installed by you.
• Scan Your Entire Device – After removing unwanted apps, do a complete virus scan of the infected device.
• Last Resort – Reset Your Device – If you have a clean backup of your device’s data before your data is breached, you can erase all the data on your phone to the state it was in when it came from the factory. For example, on an iPhone, go into “Settings,” then “General.” Next, scroll down and click on “Reset.” Then select “Erase All Content and Settings.”
• Once Your Phone is Clean – Restore a clean backup created before your device was compromised.

Many small to midsized businesses have neither the time nor the budget for a full-time IT department. However, cyber security is a full-time job. Therefore, IT professionals should be enlisted to help analyze your vulnerabilities and propose state-of-the-art safeguards to ensure maximum data protection. In addition, IT experts will help train your team to follow the correct protocols to support your cyber security plan and further support your protection.

DIGIGUARD Cyber Security Can Protect Your Data, at Home and Abroad

DIGIGUARD, specializing in preventing cyber threats, has a wide array of solutions to protect against cybercrimes and ensure you have the best possible cyber protection. It works with small and midsized businesses to establish cyber security best practices to help keep your confidential data secure. Strong protection requires all of your employees to be on the same page, and every single device used to log onto your network must be protected wherever the connection is located. The harsh reality is that cyberattacks can have devastating consequences for any business, whether at home or abroad. DIGIGUARD can put your mind at ease and assess your cyber risks before you travel while working with you to ensure you have the best custom-designed protection solutions for your business wherever you are.

Call DIGIGUARD CYBER SECURITY at 833-33-CYBER (833-332-9237) and visit www.DIGIGUARDsecurity.com to discuss how you can increase your level of cyber security at home and when traveling.