With the summer travel season fast approaching, many people are eagerly planning their next international trip. As excitement grows, it’s important to remember that increased travel also brings increased cyber risks.
Whether you’re heading to a tropical beach or a bustling city, practicing cyber hygiene is essential to keeping your digital life safe.
Cyber hygiene is like personal hygiene – it’s a daily habit, and especially when traveling, it’s important to have good habits to keep your digital environment clean and safe.
When traveling, people typically carry devices such as computers and smartphones with them. These devices, called endpoints, connect to a variety of networks, including hotels, corporate networks, public Wi-Fi, and conferences. This connectivity makes the devices vulnerable. If your laptop becomes infected with a virus or other malicious software while traveling, there is a risk that the infection can spread to your home or corporate network. If a threat actor (also known as a cyber threat actor or malicious actor, an individual or group that intentionally harms digital devices and systems) gains access to your device, they can infiltrate your network and cause serious consequences, such as a ransomware attack.
What can travelers do to protect themselves from cyber attacks?
• Patch your system:
This should be a top priority whether you’re traveling or not. Next time you open the App Store or Google Play Store to update an app on your phone, check the release notes and find out why the vendor is recommending you update the app. In most cases, it’s about security features. Always keep your software up to date. Ignoring these fixes leaves your device vulnerable to known threats.
• Choose your software carefully:
Do not install random software unless you are sure it is legitimate. Some countries may require specific tracking software at airport passport control. Make sure you install the correct software to avoid malicious files that may be circulating on the Internet.
• Device access control:
Don’t let others use your laptop, even if it’s just to browse a website or check your email. This is dangerous because if someone has access to your computer’s inbox, they can inadvertently open a file and download malicious software. The same risk exists when you plug someone else’s USB stick into your computer. Always lock your computer with a complex password.
• Encrypt your data:
Data on your laptop should always be encrypted as it can be lost while traveling. Laptops are susceptible to theft or loss, and if you do not encrypt the system, even if you put a password on the device, it is not that hard for a threat actor to access your data as they have physical access to the device itself.
• Avoid public Wi-Fi:
Public networks are risky. Use a personal hotspot or mobile Wi-Fi router instead. If the network is not secure enough, other users on this network can scan your system directly. If you need to join a public network, avoid sensitive tasks. Do not make online payments or log in to your bank account. This will reduce your chances of being involved in a cybersecurity incident.
• Maintaining Cybersecurity on Social Media
Social media plays an important role in our lives, especially when traveling. While it’s a great way to share experiences and stay connected, it also comes with its own cyber security risks. When on vacation, it’s important to be mindful of how you use social media to protect your personal information and avoid potential threats.
• Beware of scams
Another thing to watch out for on social media is scams that occur on instant messaging services. Social engineering – a cyber attack that uses psychological tactics to manipulate people into taking a desired action, such as divulging sensitive information – is one of the most common and most effective tactics to gain access to user accounts, and the more information you reveal about yourself through your social media accounts, the easier it becomes for attackers to gain access.
• QR Code
QR codes have become extremely popular for tracking over the past two years, and you should also keep in mind the potential risks when scanning a QR code: Scanning a QR code typically opens a specific website on your device, but that website can be compromised and malicious files can be downloaded onto your device.
As you head off on your summer travels, it’s important to stay vigilant with your cyber hygiene to protect your digital life. The steps above are essential for a safe travel experience. Follow these tips to ensure your cyber defenses are up and running, while staying safe and enjoying your trip.
Emmanuel Oscar is senior manager of systems engineering for the Caribbean at Fortinet.
