With so many of us now carrying laptops, tablets and smartphones with us when heading out on holidays or business trips, it’s vital to make sure that we’re taking steps to maintain our privacy by protecting our devices and data against threats online.
There are many cybersecurity concerns to consider when planning a trip. In fact, believe it or not, one of the biggest dangers when travelling is using public Wi-Fi networks. These networks are often unsecured, which means that any third parties can access them and potentially view or steal your data by doing so.
While advances in technology have made travel easier than ever before, they’ve also created new cybersecurity risks that must be taken into consideration, including realistic scams that have the potential to strip tourists of their entire trip’s budget. From bugged ATMs to Wi-Fi hotspots, travellers today are constantly exposed to potential threats.
Here are a few tips you can follow to help you stay safe while on the road.
Use Ad Blocking Technology
Ad block technology is an essential tool for anyone who travels frequently. These software solutions work by using filtering rules to hide or even block content on a webpage that they’ve been able to identify as advertising or promotional content.
Ad blockers can be especially useful when travelling, as it can help individuals using data on the go to reduce their data usage and save their phone battery from going flat prematurely. In addition, ad blockers can help to protect your privacy by preventing third-party trackers from collecting your data.
Ad blockers can also improve the usability of websites by removing clutter and distractions. For all these reasons, ad blockers have become increasingly popular in recent years. In fact, it is estimated that there are now over 763 million devices protected by ad blockers worldwide.
Use a VPN When Accessing Public Wi-Fi Networks
Although public Wi-Fi networks can be convenient, they can also be dangerous. When you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, there is a strong likelihood that your connection isn’t private, meaning it can be intercepted by third parties who may then be able to view your browsing activity. This means that any sensitive information you transmit, such as passwords or credit card numbers, could also potentially be intercepted by hackers.
Even if you’re just browsing the web, you could be at risk of having your personal data stolen when accessing the web through a public Wi-Fi network. So how can you keep yourself safe? One of the best ways to protect yourself when taking advantage of public Wi-Fi networks is to use a VPN. A VPN encrypts all of your traffic, meaning that even if it is intercepted, it will be unreadable.
Keep Your Software and Antivirus Programs Up to Date
When you travel, it’s important to keep your software and antivirus programs up to date. This will help protect your computer from viruses and other malware that may lurk in the darker corners of the sites and applications you visit when accessing the web.
By keeping your software and antivirus programs up to date, you can help defend against these threats and even deter hackers from targeting you. In addition, if you use public computers when you travel, it’s important to make sure that you log out of all accounts and disable any auto-login features. This will help prevent malevolent third parties from gaining access to your personal information.
Never Click on Links or Attachments From People You Don’t Know
There are a few reasons why you should never click on links or attachments from people you don’t know when travelling. First of all, there’s no way to verify where that particular link or attachment came from. It could be from a legitimate source, or it could be malicious software that’s designed to infect your device. Regardless, it’s simply not a gamble worth taking.
Second, even if the link or attachment is from a legitimate source, you don’t entirely know what it contains. It could be something harmless, like a photo or document, or it could be something malicious, like a virus or piece of spyware.
Finally, if you do click on a link or attachment from someone you don’t know, do so with the knowledge that you’re effectively giving the source of this information access to your device. They could use this access to steal your personal information or install malicious software onto your device. This is why it’s key to always exercise caution when clicking on links or attachments from people you don’t know when on the go.
Regularly Back Up Your Data in Case of Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your data and demands a ransom in order to allow decryption. With the rise of AI-powered ransomware and other developments in ransomware technologies, ransomware attacks are becoming more common, and they can often have devastating consequences. If you’re hit with ransomware, you could lose access to important files, photos, and other sensitive user and device data.
That’s why it’s essential to regularly back up your data when travelling. By backing up your data, you’ll be able to quickly and easily recover your files if you’re hit with a ransomware attack.
There are many different ways to backup your data, including using an external hard drive or cloud storage service. Whichever method you choose, make sure that you backup consistently, especially if you’re hoping to work offline when travelling and don’t want to risk losing anything you’ve invested a lot of time in.
The last thing that anybody wants to deal with when travelling abroad is a nasty cyberattack. Thankfully, by following these simple tips, you can enjoy a dynamic cybersecurity strategy that will in turn, help drastically reduce your risks of falling victim to cybercrime when travelling.