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PROTECT YOUR DEVICES AND DATA WHILE TRAVELLING

photo credit: maarten van den heuvel | unsplash

If you’re like me, you use your phone as a pocket-sized personal assistant while travelling. And like any trusted personal assistant, your device has access to all of your personal information. And that’s the way it should be – if you trust your personal assistant.

This blog outlines the 10 steps you can take to safeguard your devices and data while travelling, so that you can feel safe using your devices wherever you go.

Download a free copy of my Device and Data Safety While Travelling Checklist to help you keep track of important tasks before you leave, and mindfulness practices to help you keep your data safe while you’re away. 

Renee | August 2024

PS: This blog expands on my blog How To Travel Safely in 2024.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR DEVICES AND DATA WHILE TRAVELLING IN 2024

  • Before You Leave
    • Lock your devices and log out of accounts
    • Turn off information sharing apps
    • Update your software
    • Install a VPN
    • Install anti -virus software
  • While You’re Travelling
    • Keep your devices with you 
    • Turn your devices off when not in use
    • Protect your PINs and passphrases
    • Be mindful when using public Wifi
    • Stay safe on social media

Device & Data Safety – Before You Leave

Lock Your Devices And Log Out Of Accounts

Password protect your devices. This is a common best practice that should be used even at home. Passwords are good. Passphrases are best. See What Is A Passphrase by TechTaret.

Log out of all apps, accounts and browsers. Only log into them when needed. This is especially important if you have a password app like LastPass, or use a browser password keeper (like Google Password Manager). Managing these settings is different for every device. To manage your settings, do an internet search for “Manage Password settings for browser on phone”

Set up MFA (multi-factor authentication) wherever possible. Check out What Is MFA? by OktaDev to learn more.

Turn Off Information Sharing Apps

Before you travel with any device, dedicate some time to investigate the data privacy settings for the apps that are loaded on it. Every device comes pre-loaded with software that has the potential to collect and share your data. Same goes for every app you download. By managing your data settings you can protect yourself against unwanted data theft at home and while you’re travelling. 

Below are a couple of resources to help get you started: 

  1. Take These 5 Steps To Stop Apps From Collecting Your Data Now. This article contains a short video that explains how to read privacy policies so that you can update settings for apps that you’ve already installed, and control the settings for new apps you’ll install in the future (start at 5:50 and watch till the end).
  2. What To Know About Bluetooth Security. This article explains which apps are most likely to use Bluetooth behind-the-scenes, which can make them easy to overlook when managing data and security settings.

You’ll also want to:   

  • Turn off Airdrop for iOS and QuickShare for Android, and any other information-sharing apps on your mobile device. Don’t use them in a public space.
  • Turn off contactless or tap payment on your mobile wallet to protect from card skimmers (a device that mimics a point of sale machine, stealing money from your bank account or credit card). Only switch it on when you’re making a purchase.

Update Your Software

Always check to make sure the devices you’re travelling with are operating on the most current software. Your device will give you the option to either auto-update, or you can choose the best time and date to perform the update. To learn more about the importance of running current software while travelling, read The Biggest Risks In Procrastinating On iPhone, Android Software Updates by CNBC.

Bonus: Not all of the perks of running updated software are security-related; check out 5 Reasons To Update your iPhone Before Your Next Trip by Travel + Leisure.

Install A VPN

If you’re going to be using public Wifi on your trip, then you need to get a VPN. VPN stands for virtual private network, and it works by encrypting your internet connection and routing it through a secure server in a different country. For example, if I was travelling to a country where the government monitors and restricts internet usage, I could choose to install a VPN that runs on a server in Canada, protecting my privacy and giving me access to all the websites and streaming services I’m used to back home.

Here are top considerations when choosing a VPN:

  1. Do a Google Search and read reviews. Look for recent data breaches, internet connection speed, server locations, and whether they run ads (which is common for free VPNs).
  2. Look for a VPN that uses a no-log policy, which means that they can’t track or store your data.
  3. Find out if VPNs are banned / illegal where you’re travelling.

For help choosing the best travel VPN for your needs, check out The Best Travel VPNs of 2024: Expert Tested and Reviewed by ZDNet. 

Install Anti-Virus Software

Anti-Virus, anti-malware and anti-spyware are all examples of data protection software. Check your devices to see what sort of protection software came preloaded and then download and install additional protection if you think you need it.

Make sure you run an update on your software the day before you leave to ensure it’s running the most current version. 

To get started learning about protection software, read Do You Still Need Antivirus? by Security.org.

Device & Data Safety – While You’re Travelling

Keep Your Devices With You

Never let your devices out of your sight, and don’t leave them unattended in public. Get a waterproof pouch that you can wear when you go swimming to keep smaller devices like your smartphone and smartwatch on you at all times. 

Tablets and laptops can be trickier, so if you don’t absolutely need them on your trip, don’t bring them. Hotel room safes are designed to be accessed by hotel staff in the event you lose the key or forget your code, which means they can be accessed when you’re not in the room.

Turn Your Devices Off When Not In Use

If your device isn’t turned on, then the software and information stored on your device can’t be accessed or stolen. I make a point of turning my devices off when walking around crowded areas and even when going through security.

Protect Your PIN and Passwords

Protect your PIN the way you would if someone was looking over your shoulder. It’s called ‘shoulder-surfing,’ and that’s how thieves choose targets for device theft. Set up biometrics so that a fingerprint or face recognition is required to unlock your device.

Protect your passwords by using multi-factor authentication (MFA) where available, log out of apps and browsers when you’re done using them, and clear your browser history after accessing websites that require a password.

Be Mindful When Using Public Wifi

If you’re going to be using public Wifi on your trip then you need to get a VPN (see above).

Turn off Wifi on your devices and only turn it on when you need to use it. This puts you in control of when your device connects to the internet, and will reduce the risk of your data being stolen.

Stay Safe On Social Media

Here are my top tips for safe travels when posting on social media: 

  • Turn off your location settings. Do it before you leave home. 
  • Change your privacy settings so that only trusted friends and family can see your posts. 
  • Be vague about where you are and where you’re planning to go next.
  • Save your landmark photos till after you’re home.

I get it, the draw to share your adventures online can be overwhelming. Especially when you’re seeing and doing things you’ve always wanted to do. But when you’re travelling there are some things to consider before sharing your stories, like who could be watching and what they can do with that information. Once you get home you can post highlights from your trip with all the details about where you went and what you did. Posting in this way has has a two-fold benefit: 

  • It gives you time to craft your posts; and,
  • Following up teaser posts with with deeper insights almost always get more engagement. 

Conclusion

I hope this blog has given you a couple of new safety tips to consider for your next trip. Download Device & Data Safety While Travelling Checklist, print a copy, and tuck a it into your travel journal. Check it twice before you leave and keep it handy wherever your travels may take you.

Safe travels!

Renee | August 2024