NEED TO KNOW NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2024

Pack for the Beach, Not the Breach

International travels introduce fresh security challenges, which differ depending on the country and political climate. Yes, any foreign environment opens doors to additional breach opportunities.

Prioritizing the minimization of risk to both your personal safety and your data privacy is crucial. Here are some tips for international travel:

Update your mobile software Treat your mobile device like your home computer. Keep your operating system software and apps updated, which will improve your device’s ability to defend against malware.

Back up your information like your contacts, photos, videos and other mobile device data with another device or cloud service.

Only bring crucial documents and items, such as your passport and visa. Avoid including unnecessary items like membership IDs. Pack only the credit cards you plan to use during your journey.

Avoid connecting to public wireless or wired networks. Treat all Wi-Fi networks as insecure and exercise caution.  Instead, always connect through a VPN or your personal MiFi or hotspot and log out from all applications & browsers.  Close and terminate connections when not in use. 

Disable any connectivity features, such as wireless, Bluetooth, Ethernet or infrared ports when not in use.

Do Not put any sensitive information, whether printed or stored on electronic devices, in checked luggage and never leave electronic devices unattended. If you need to stow a device, remove the battery and SIM card, and keep those with you.

Utilize digital signature and encryption capabilities when possible.

Protect passwords from visibility. Stay vigilant of anyone who might be observing the screen or monitoring your typing, especially in public areas.

Keep it locked. Get into the habit of locking your device when you are not using it. A few minutes is enough time for someone to steal or destroy your information.

Do not use the "remember me" feature, retype credentials every time.

After each use, clear the browser by deleting history files, caches, cookies, URLs, and temporary Internet files. Also remember to Empty "trash" and "recent" folders after every use.

Avoid clicking on links in emails. If you are certain that a site is legitimate and access is required for your job duties, manually type the address into a browser instead.

Avoid accepting or using any technological gifts while on your trip, including USB flash drives or peripherals for workstations and/or smart phones.

Physical theft of devices. Thieves often target travelers. Mealtimes are optimum times for thieves to check hotel rooms for unattended laptops.

Have a Safe & Cyber Secure Trip!