Cyber security whilst travelling – How to protect your data on holiday

For many people, the summer holidays are the best time of the year. Whether it’s a beach holiday, a city break or a camping trip in the mountains – smartphones, tablets and laptops are almost always in tow. But whilst we’re relaxing, cybercriminals are seizing the opportunity to get their hands on our personal data.

Be careful when using public Wi-Fi networks

Free Wi-Fi networks in hotels, restaurants, airports or railway stations are convenient, but are often inadequately secured. Attackers can intercept data traffic or set up fake Wi-Fi hotspots that appear legitimate at first glance.

You should therefore only use public Wi-Fi networks with caution. For sensitive activities such as online banking or accessing company data, it is advisable to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection. This encrypts data transmission and protects against prying eyes.

Securing devices

Enable a screen lock on all your devices and use strong passwords or biometric authentication methods such as fingerprint or facial recognition. You should also ensure that your operating systems and apps are always up to date.

Anyone who is out and about should also enable the location tracking and remote wipe features. This means that, in an emergency, lost or stolen devices can be locked or wiped.

Beware of phishing

The holiday season is also peak season for fraudsters. Fake booking confirmations, supposed flight changes and text messages from parcel delivery services are among the most common scams.

Always check the sender, links and attachments carefully. If in doubt, open the provider’s website directly in your browser rather than clicking on a link in a message.

With just a few precautions, most risks can be avoided. If you protect your devices, use public Wi-Fi networks sensibly and stay alert, you can enjoy your holiday without any worries.