Cyber Safety While Traveling: 4 Easy Tips To Secure Yourself

Whether going on a weekend or a week-long trip, these are some of the best tips to keep your devices and data cyber secure while traveling. Cyber safety is more crucial than ever when traveling both domestically and internationally. You may think your devices, data, and information are safe, but you won’t know until it’s too late.

While everyone loves to get away and travel, there are many important steps that you should take to secure your information. These are some of my personal security steps to take that will better secure your data, especially when traveling.

Cyber Safety Tips for Planning Your Trip

When planning any trip, it is important to do your research on booking your trip. There are a lot of scams that can occur through sites like Airbnb, Home Away, and VRBO. The last thing you would want is to arrive at your destination and realize it either doesn’t exist or is not an accurate portrayal of the listing. So it is better to protect yourself and your family from these issues while traveling. Here are some tips for booking your trip with cyber safety in mind:

• Make sure you are using a https:// website address. (For more tips on shopping online safely, visit this post.)
  
• Ensure that the website you are booking from is, in fact, the accurate web address. Cybercriminals prefer to spoof commonly misspelled website addresses, making unsuspecting people fall too easily into their scams.
  
• NEVER wire money directly or email the host outside of the site platform. If they insist on this, it could likely be a scam.
  
• Take the time to read the guest and location reviews for the listing. Many individuals that rent their properties online use multiple rental sites for their listings. Checking those reviews for both positive and negative guest experience can ensure you’re not only going to be safe but that the listing is as factually advertised as possible.
  
• NEVER book travel through any social media sites. Anyone can create a Facebook or Instagram business page these days, even scammers. So booking through social media never guarantees business or vacation listing legitimacy. 
  
• Check the refund and policies on travel sites, Airbnb, Home Away, and VRBO. Purchase traveler insurance when booking your stay, if possible. This protects you further in the event of a cancellation or even a more elaborate rental scam.
  
• Use an external payment system (such as PayPal or Venmo) or a dedicated credit card when booking your lodging and transportation. This process protects your money in the event of a scam from being stolen directly from your primary bank account. 

Cyber Safety Tips Prior to Your Trip

Now that you’re all booked and ready to travel, that doesn’t mean you can skimp on your cyber safety before you depart for your trip. Here are some security tips to increase securing your personal information ahead of your departure:

• Run a free credit report via annualcreditreport.com or through credit karma to ensure all of your accounts have accurate information. I personally do this because, in the event that a personal data breach occurs, this provides you with a timeframe of when the breach may have happened. I also recommend checking your credit profile information regularly to further protect your accounts.
  
• Notify your banks and credit card companies a few days before your travel arrangements. Most banks and credit card companies keep alerts on accounts if traveling out of state. If you don’t call ahead to notify them, you run the risk of your card being declined and potentially being permanently shut off from use to prevent potential fraud. 
  
• Put a temporary freeze on any of your credit or debit cards that you are not taking with you in the event they are compromised during your travel.
  
• Double check your travel confirmation information to ensure the legitimacy of your travel itinerary for transportation, stay, and more. 

Traveling Cyber Safety Tips Prior to Takeoff

Vacation time is almost here, but wait, there are more important security-related steps to take. Although your cyber safety while traveling is important, the physical security of yourself and your home is just as important. Here are some steps cyber safety tips to take prior to your departure for your trip:

• Designate one or two credit (or debit) cards to take with you while traveling. Unfortunately, in the digital-driven world we now live in, cash is no longer king! This ensures in the event of a breach of your personal data, your direct bank account is not dramatically impacted. Also, the turnaround time for you if a credit card compromise occurs is quicker with credit card companies than with your bank. 
  
• Make sure to lock up valuable items and other debit or credit cards you may have in the home prior to traveling.
  
• Back up your computer, laptop, and all mobile devices prior to traveling in the event of a breach occurring. By doing this you have a recovery point for those devices in the event they are stolen, lost, or otherwise compromised.
  
• Also, run system updates, anti-virus, and anti-malware programs for all of your devices.
  
• Research and secure a device VPN (a virtual private network). Many VPN providers allow for free trials or low-cost options for computers, laptops, and mobile devices.  
  
• Limit access, turn off, or unplug your home network router prior to your departure. Also, power down any electronic devices you are not taking with you. This ensures that cybercriminals cannot access your network or devices connected to your network while you are gone.
  
  (Budget tip: This method is not only good as a cybersecurity measure but also saves energy and energy running costs in your home while away.)

Cyber Safety Tips While On Your Trip

Vacation is finally here!! As much as you are ready to relax and unwind, here are some important security tips to keep in mind to ensure you can maximize your vacation fun securely:

• Always be aware of your surroundings. Lock up and put away your devices when traveling. Don’t be too trusting that your devices are secure while traveling. Someone could be shoulder surfing without your knowledge. My rule of thumb with this is that if you can’t carry it on you, don’t take it out with you. Power it off and lock it up in your room.
  
• Be aware of public Wi-Fi usage while lodging on vacation. You cannot guarantee the legitimacy of many networks you may encounter traveling. 
  
• Turn off location tracking services, Wi-Fi auto-connect, and Bluetooth on your devices and, if possible, utilize a VPN. 
  
• Avoid posting on social media. As much as we are excited to share our adventures with others, my best advice is to save it for when you return home. This not only increases your physical and cyber security, but it also helps you disconnect and unwind more. Relaxation is KEY!
  
• Finally, most of all… HAVE FUN!!