Courtesy of eGuard Tech Services, some data security travel tips for the holidays (and beyond):

The holiday season is just getting underway (yikes!!) and out-of-town travel might very well be on your schedule.

But we suggest you keep in mind one thing…

You may be on vacation, but hackers aren’t.

Taking extra precautions can boost your digital defenses and help protect both personal and work-issued devices. We’ve got five quick suggestions on how you can protect your cyber security while traveling over the holiday season:

First, remove sensitive data from your device. 

Backup the devices you’re bringing, and then remove any sensitive data, such as financial statements. Keep all of your software patched and up to date. Delete or leave behind any sensitive data or files that you won’t need on your trip. Encrypt what remains with tools such as FileVault, for Apple devices, and BitLocker, for Windows devices. 

Next…ensure security on your device is updated.

Apply all updates to systems and applications prior to traveling. Updates and patches acquired from unsecured networks may be malware in disguise. Also, backup any data on devices that will be traveling with you, and turn off file-sharing and printer-sharing applications. These can be used by an outside party to connect to your device.

Be vigilant against theft!

Leaving your device unattended for a matter of seconds could potentially lead to theft. Also, be mindful of those around you, since someone might be watching as you enter passwords. This is commonly known as shoulder surfing. If someone wants to steal your information, they can merely look over your shoulder if you’re not being careful. 

Make sure you don’t use USB chargers in public spaces…

There’s a growing trend of “juice jacking,” where criminals can gain access to information on your device via the USB cable since it contains two wires—one for power, and one for data transfer. The cord you use to charge your phone is also used to send data from your phone to other devices. For instance, when you plug your iPhone into your Mac with the charging cord, you can download photos from your phone to your computer.

Don’t trust public Wi-Fi…

Just because most wireless routers have a firewall to protect you from the internet, doesn’t mean you’re protected from others connected to the same network. It’s remarkably easy to steal someone’s username and password, or see what they’re doing just by being on the same network. So…don’t take any chances. Assume that everyone can see what you see on your device screen and more. Subscription to a VPN service is not very expensive, and is the smart thing to do, but even that is not 100% foolproof. But, it’s pretty darn close……

We hope these tips help…stay safe, and happy travels!