Technology Travel Tips

When traveling, electronics security is very important. Some tips:

• Use secure Wi-Fi.  Be wary of public Wi-Fi.  They are unsecured connections and you run the risk of having your personal information tracked or collected when browsing on unknown networks.  Be especially careful when entering passwords or accessing personal and financial information online.  Avoid public computers when possible too. 
• Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when you can.
• Disable Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth.  Disable these functions and unused apps on your device when not in use.  These services can be used to potentially launch attacks against your device and can be used to locate and introduce malware.
• Keep your devices safe.  Small devices such as cell phones, laptops, hard drives, or flash drives, and tablets are susceptible to theft or loss, especially while traveling.  When unattended, keep your devices secure or locked up.  Create unique passwords or passcodes for each of your devices.  Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) when you can. 
• Travel with less data.  Be sure your laptop and drives are encrypted before you go away.
• Make data and device backups before you go on your trip.
• Have a plan in the event you do have a loss of some sort.
• Have an antivirus installed and be sure your PC and other devices are up-to-date.
• Encrypt everything if you can.
• Don't put devices into checked bags because it can be lost, stolen, or stolen from.
• Never leave your devices in a hotel room unsecured.  Always put them in the room safe or the hotel safe if your room doesn't have one, or take them with you.
• Be cautious of public computers.  Avoid logging in to personal accounts on them or connecting your personal devices to them.
• When you return, change all your passwords/passcodes.