Summer vacation is here! Unfortunately for millions of Americans so is the threat of security threats to personal information during your travel. Whether you’re heading to Siesta Key, FL traveling to a vacation rental through an airport, dining in a restaurant, or soaking up some sun by the pool threats are all around.
Here are the top 10 ways to secure your data while vacationing this summer.
Protect your accounts with strong passwords
Avoid using easy phrases or numerical sequences. The national cyber security center’s worldwide analysis of passwords found that 23.2 million accounts used “123456” as a password. “Make sure each password is long, complicated, and different from each other,” said Aaron Weaver a journalist for Hacked.com.
Turn on your two-factor authentication
This is an easy way to add an extra layer of protection to your personal accounts. Electronic authentication only grants you access to your account after presenting the second piece of evidence. The first factor is your password and the second is usually a code sent to your phone or email confirming your identity. This gives you an extra layer of security if hackers gain access to your password. Do this for all of your accounts. Your email, Facebook, Twitter, and bank accounts need two-factor authentication.
Avoid public Wi-Fi hotspots
When connecting at an airport Wi-Fi be aware of fake Wi-Fi networks that look like the real thing. Scammers give their fake networks a name we won’t think twice about connecting to. Public hotspots are a prime target for hacking.
Turn off Wi-Fi auto-connect on your cell phone or computer
Do this before you travel or walk through an airport. You could be leaking data without even knowing.
Purchase a VPN – Virtual Private Network
This makes your online actions untraceable. Your connection is secure and encrypted. “It makes it so hackers can’t see where you are. They can’t see your IP (Internet Protocol) address which they can normally see if you connect to public Wi-Fi.
Don’t charge your smartphone at public charging stations
These public charging stations, which appear in most airports, can seem convenient while traveling but are used by hackers to gain access to your device. Criminals can hack the USB port and download malware to access passwords and sensitive information. This new cyber threat tactic is called juice jacking. Make sure to use a cube that plugs into an electrical outlet instead.
Back up files and valuable information before you go
If your device is stolen or if you fall victim to a cyber-attack your important files will be saved.
Update your operating systems
Make sure your device is running on the most updated operating systems because often they have critical fixes to security holes or known attacks.
Don’t share personal information
Be leary of who’s asking for your personal information, and if something doesn’t seem right, go with your gut, it usually is a red flag for a hacker.
Don’t leave devices unattended
Make sure all your devices are physically protected from a stranger getting into them. He suggests using a pin or a fingerprint scan to access any device.
Ascendia Group is an award winning real estate, rental, and property management company on Siesta Key in Sarasota, FL.