As you’re traveling this summer, you’ll likely be taking a device or two with you — maybe even more. It’s important to keep an eye on your electronics and keep your connectivity secure at all times. The Better Business Bureau offers several cybersecurity tips to help you protect your information as well as your cell phone, laptop, tablet and other devices while you’re traveling abroad.
Only take what you need. Do you need your cellphone, tablet and your laptop? It’s best to limit yourself to the bare necessities when possible, since any devices you take with you will need looking after.
Be careful about how you charge up. Portable chargers or wall outlets are preferable if you need to charge your device in a public space like a coffee shop or an airport.
Avoid connecting directly into a public USB port, which brings the risk of “juice jacking.” This happens when someone fraudulently loads malware onto public USB charging stations. They access electronic devices while they are being charged and install malware through the corrupted USB port. This can lock your device or export personal data and passwords directly to the perpetrator. Criminals can then use the stolen information to access online accounts or sell it to other bad actors.
Consider carrying an external battery or purchase a charge only cable. If you must plug directly into a public USB port and a prompt appears on your device asking you to select “share data” or “trust this computer” or “charge only,” always select “charge only.”
Check your settings. Adjust your settings to prepare for travel. Turn off the auto-join feature to avoid connecting to shady Wi-Fi hotspots as you travel. Turn on the “find my phone” feature so you can track your device if it gets lost and disable it if it’s stolen. Check the privacy and security settings on apps and web services and adjust them if needed.
Always enable password protection. Make sure your devices require a password to unlock them. Use a strong password, PIN, fingerprint or facial scan to ensure a stranger can’t unlock your device.
Keep your antivirus up to date. Before you leave, ensure your antivirus software is up to date on all your devices. Once you return home, run a scan to make sure you didn’t pick up any malware during your travels.
Back up your files. Back up your photos, files and any other important digital data you have before and during your trip. That will help you ensure you don’t lose your valuable information if your device gets lost or stolen.
If you stream, don’t forget to log out. If you log into any streaming service while away from home, log out before leaving. If you stay signed in, the next visitor to the space can not only use your subscription; they can even access admin controls to change your password or get a hold of your payment information. If you realize you didn’t log out after you arrived home, don’t panic. Visit the streaming service online, head to your account settings, and choose the option that allows you to log out on all devices.
Use secure Wi-Fi networks. Think twice before using public Wi-Fi networks, especially if they aren’t password protected. Never make a purchase or login into accounts while on public Wi-Fi. Someone could be lurking nearby in hopes of accessing your connection and your personal information. Wait until you can access a secure network to conduct important transactions. If you have a cellular connection, use your phone as a personal Wi-Fi hotspot.
BBB has several tips to keep in mind for setting up strong passwords:
Make passwords creative. Try to create a password that’s easy for you to remember but difficult to be compromised. A good approach is intertwining passphrases with numbers and symbols. They should be at least 12 characters long, and you’ll want to avoid common cliches such as “AnAppleaDay.” Instead, pick a phrase with personal meaning to you, such as, “PlanetSpringsteenIsForMe” and then consider strengthening it with substituted characters, such as: “Pl@netSpring$teenIs4Me!”
Avoid using pets’ names, relatives, maiden names, hometowns, birthdays, other significant dates or anything that could be found out about you by an internet snoop. Also, never use easily guessed number sequences like “0000000” or “1234567.”
Once you create your new password, don’t use the same one for multiple accounts, or one that contains only a slight variation, especially for bank accounts, credit cards, legal or tax records, medically related files, or other sensitive sites.
Here’s a few other suggestions to protect you and your personal information while you’re traveling:
Set up a travel alert on your financial accounts. Let your bank and credit card companies know you’ll be using your money and cards in places outside your normal spending habits. If you previously set limits on your accounts, you’ll likely need to adjust your settings accordingly. Also, carry only necessities in your wallet while you travel.
Don’t overshare vacation plans on social media. Depending on your social media privacy settings and current connections, complete strangers may have access to your posts and see that you’re away from home. Wait until you’re back before you chronicle your vacation and share photos.
Check for card skimming devices. Skimmers are illegal card readers often attached to gas pumps or ATMs that take data from a card’s magnetic stripe. Criminals use the stolen data by either selling your information or using it to make purchases, often online. Watch for signs of difficulty inserting your card or keyboard tampering, but also keep a close eye on bank transactions, as scammers have developed smaller devices that are hard to detect.
Protect your mail. Ask a trusted neighbor or family member to collect your mail and watch for delivered packages. Consider having packages sent to a neighbor’s address temporarily. If you don’t have someone who can pick up your mail daily, consider placing it on hold while you’re gone.
You can reach your BBB at 423-266-6144 or by email at tngabbb@chattanooga.bbb.org.
Michele Mason is president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga.