Going on Vacation Soon? Don’t Forget to Prepare Your Devices

Memorial Day is the unofficial kickoff to summer and, for many of us, that means vacation time. But smartphones, tablets, and laptops rarely stay home when we travel.

Taking those devices on the road can also introduce additional security risks. Devices can be lost or stolen, and public Wi-Fi networks at hotels, airports, restaurants, and tourist destinations may not provide the same level of security as networks you trust.

How are you going to post all those vacation shots on social media if you don’t have your device with you? Your electronics are at higher risk when you take them on a trip. Everyone is focusing on seeing the sights and doing vacation stuff. It’s easy for a thief to grab a tablet or laptop off a table that you left “just for a minute.”  All that free Wi-Fi is awesome, it’s also a prime place for hackers to hide.  Free public Wi-Fi may be insecure, users should verify the legitimate network, avoid sensitive activity, and consider using their cellular connection instead. You know that family vacation photo you finally just got right? That too may be out there for the world to steal because you connected to free Wi-Fi to save it to your cloud drive.

Stop making common mistakes and get your devices ready the right way.

Here are some tips on device prep before your next trip:

• Keep your operating system and applications updated.
• Use a strong screen lock and enable biometric authentication where appropriate.
• Enable Find My Device or the equivalent device-location feature.
• Avoid leaving devices unattended in public places.
• Verify the name of a public Wi-Fi network before connecting.
• Use your cellular connection or personal hotspot instead of public Wi-Fi when practical.
• Use your organization’s approved VPN or secure-access solution when accessing business resources.
• Back up important information before traveling.
• Disable automatic Wi-Fi connections and unnecessary Bluetooth connections.
• Know how to contact your company’s IT support team if a business device is lost or compromised.

Don’t let a hacker or thief ruin your fun.