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Top 3 Cybersecurity Tips for Travelers

Plans to travel this summer? You’re not alone. It’s estimated that 75% of Americans will travel domestically, this summer. This is a 16% increase as compared to 2021.

Allianz, a company specializing in travel insurance and assistance, figures “more than 1,175,000 flight itineraries for trips … from May 27 through September 6”. Planning for travels takes a lot, from mental preparation to financial preparation - making sure you can afford your getaway. We pass along the following cybersecurity tips to help keep your travels safe:

Updates

It's important that you have up-to-date operating systems, as they are your first defense against malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats. Keeping your systems up to date is also important because they serve as a patch to detected security holes and make it more difficult for hackers to attack your system.

Double-check that you have installed antivirus protection on your accounts, and that this protection is up to date. Antivirus products are an added layer of protection that work to detect and remove malicious software, such as viruses, from your devices.

It’s recommended that you update your passwords every three months. Though this might be more frequent than you’d think necessary, remember if your information such as passwords have been comprised, you’re decreasing the amount of access a cyber criminal will have to your accounts. Take this proactive cybersecurity step, and change your passwords, regularly.

Take Advantage of Security Features

Odds are if you have a relatively current mobile devices, they are equipped with software that can assist you with locating your device and protecting the personal information stored on your device. Apps such as Apple’s Find My Phone, Samsung’s Find My Mobile and Google’s Find My Device available on Android devices, will remotely remove data and if needed, disable your device for further protection.

All devices should be password-protected to make the process of accessing your device and data more difficult should you lose or misplace your device. Don't forget that the most commonly used security features are finger swiping and facial recognition.

Avoid Public Wi-Fi

According to a survey conducted by McAfee, a leading global computer security software company, “42% of Americans either do not check the security of their Internet connections or they willingly connect to an unsecured network while traveling”. Though it’s easy to connect to public Wi-Fi networks, it also makes it easier to gain your personal and other sensitive information when you log into your accounts, as anyone connected to the same network might be able to view your data. It’s recommended that you prepare to use an alternative source of Wi-Fi access, such as using a VPN or your phone’s mobile hotpot.

Cybersecurity Resources:

The best antivirus protection for 2022 | PCMag.com

The best password generators in 2022 | TechRadar.com

What is a VPN? | Norton.com