Follow these guidelines to keep safe and the evil elves from accessing your data while you’re on the road.
Any internet connection is cloudy with a chance of malware in today’s cybercrime climate. When you consider the dangers of relying on unknown Wi-Fi routers when you’re not at home, there are plenty of reasons to be cautious.
And… you can begin protecting yourself right now. Follow this Traveler Protection Guide and you’ll be able to relax and stay safe on your vacation. At least in the digital realm.
Before you get on the plane
Investing a few minutes now will save you hours later. Here’s a checklist to help you prepare for your flight:
- Disable file sharing – Make sure no files or drives are set to share; otherwise, anyone on the same network will have access to that information.
- Ensure that everything is up to date – Make sure all of your apps, especially your operating system and security software, are up to date.
- Use a device-tracking app – Android users should use “Find My Device,” while Apple users should use “Find My iPhone.” When you’re away from home, these services can be extremely useful.
Stay safe while on the road
- When not in use, turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Keep others from detecting you when you don’t want to be detected by avoiding unnecessary connections.
- When connecting to a new Wi-Fi network, whether at a friend’s or relative’s house, be sure to get the exact name of the network so you don’t accidentally connect to a phony posing as the real one.
- When conducting banking transactions over open Wi-Fi, always use a VPN. Avoid checking your bank or credit card accounts as much as possible. Never use an untrusted device or computer to access them, and never use public Wi-Fi. When you’re banking, you should always use a VPN.
- If you absolutely must shop online while traveling and using public Wi-Fi, look for the padlock icon in the address bar and a URL that begins with “https” — these are signs that you’re on a secure site. Also, double-check the URL to ensure that it is correctly spelled. Also, be aware that hackers can use https: websites to deceive you. So be on the lookout. Leave the website and shop somewhere else if something with the domain name or anything else appears to be wrong.
The best defense
Install this cybersecurity software for online armor that does most of the heavy lifting so you don’t have to:
- Antivirus – Antivirus protection is not only recommended, but practically required! Download Norton Antivirus today to protect yourself from malware attacks.
- Password manager – There are so many online logins that it’s difficult to keep track of them all. It’s much easier with a password manager. Use it on all of your devices and sync them so you can quickly (and securely) log into your online accounts without having to remember your passwords. You won’t have to type in your credentials because the LastPass password manager will do it for you.
- Virtual private networks (VPNs) are similar to protective submarines that allow you to travel the internet anonymously and untraceably. It’s by far the safest way to use public Wi-Fi, and it provides excellent overall security. Even Santa won’t be able to see what you’re doing online if you use Nord VPN.
Read this blog to learn how to stay safe while using public Wi-fi networks.
