Cybersecurity Tips for Holiday Traveling
As the holidays approach, don't forget to prioritize your cybersecurity needs. Unfortunately, scammers see festive seasons as opportunities to target vulnerable individuals. By ensuring you have strong cyber defenses in place before traveling, you can relax and enjoy time with loved ones without worrying about becoming a victim yourself.
In this article, we'll go over what steps to take before your next holiday vacation, so you can be rest assured knowing your data is protected.
What ways do cybercriminals exploit people when they travel during the holidays?
Holiday travel can present a number of cybersecurity risks.
1. As people are usually more distracted and not paying attention to their surroundings during holiday travel, scammers know that this is the perfect opportunity to target individuals. They might send phishing emails or try to install malware on devices while people are making important vacation plans.
2. Another unfortunate exploit is that criminals often see travelers as easy targets for pickpocketing and other types of theft during the holidays. They know that many people are preoccupied when they're on vacation, which makes it the perfect time to snatch items like luggage, wallets, and electronics. This can even lead to identity theft if the thief gets ahold of personal information.
3. Around the holidays, cybercriminals latch on to unsuspecting travelers in order to steal personal information like passport details and credit card numbers. They do this either by installing keyloggers on public computers or by creating fake websites that mimic well-known travel companies.
Before going on vacation
Keep your personal information and mobile devices safe this holiday season by following these tips:
1. Let a trusted neighbor or friend know you'll be gone
By letting a close friend or family member know when you'll be away from home, you're not only being courteous, but giving them the opportunity to act as an extra set of eyes and ears for any strange activity going on near your property. With the way physical and cybersecurity are intertwined now through the Internet of Things (IoT), it's more imperative than ever to have someone trustworthy looking out for your devices in case something happens while you're gone.
2. Notify the IT department that you'll be out of the office
To avoid any surprises while you're out of the office, make a list of everyone who needs to be aware of your vacation plans, and don't forget to include the IT department. Your IT colleagues can help you lock down your workstation before you leave, as well as set up temporary credentials for anyone who might need access to your accounts while you're gone.
3. Secure your station
Keep your passwords hidden from view and don't write them down in easy-to-find places, like on a sticky note next to your laptop. Make sure to log out of all sites and devices when you're done using them; if someone gets access to your device while you're still logged in, they'll be able to see any sensitive information you have stored.
Furthermore, before leaving for an extensive amount of time, make sure to turn off and unplug devices you will not use while away. This way if somebody used your possessions in your absence, it would be easier to tell.
4. Create an out-of-office email
To avoid being scammed, keep your out-of-office (OOO) message as brief as possible. All a scammer needs is one detail to glean, when you'll be away, and exploit any weaknesses in your account security. Instead of including specifics in your OOO email, simply state that you're unable to reply at the moment but will get back to them ASAP.
More often than not, it's a bad idea to send automated responses to unknown email addresses or lists, even if they are cordial.
5. Complete all essential tasks before leaving
Before your next trip, be sure to download all the entertainment you want access to so you can relax without worrying about finding a good and safe network connection.
6. Turn off all devices that are staying at home
Make sure to secure all your devices, including both work and home computers, before leaving for vacation. If there's something you won't need while gone, shut it down completely. On top of the added security this will give you by eliminating any potential sources hackers could access, it makes it more difficult for them to reach your device in the first place.
Cybersecurity while traveling
1. Don't use public WiFi
Note that if you're planning to travel internationally, public Wi-Fi rules are usually different in other countries than America. If you still need to go online, only connect to safe networks that ask for a password. Also, it's safer to store your devices in hotel room safes whenever you're not using them or leaving the space.
2. Keep your trip on a need-to-know basis
Although you may be eager to get a lot of likes and comments by posting your travel dates and location on social media, don't do it. If you share this information publicly, you could be giving criminals the ability to track where you are and use that data to carry out a cyber attack. They can already easily obtain your information through social engineering techniques, so don't make it any easier for them.
Update your followers on your whereabouts by posting pictures of your travels to social media after you are back from your trip, and if you want people to know how your vacation is going as it's happening, send texts to family and friends.
This holiday season, protect yourself from cybercrime by staying vigilant. With more travel comes more opportunities for criminals to exploit people who let their guard down. From phishing scams to credit card fraud to identity theft, there are many ways cybercriminals can ruin your time and spoil your vacation plans.
By following these tips, you can help protect yourself from cybercrime while traveling during the holiday season. However, if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. From our team at Ozark Technology, stay alert and stay safe this holiday season!
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