Travel Security for your Technology
Summer travel season is in full swing and travel rates are closer to pre-COVID-19 levels. Whether traveling for work or pleasure, travel increases the threat risk to your personal or business devices through both physical and remote access.
Public WiFi increases the risk of an attack on your devices to steal personal or business information.
USB charging stations can be modified malware devices which can harm your device or steal your information.
Devices may be stolen while traveling, including from a hotel room, at the airport, or in a shared ride vehicle.
Consider the following steps to protect your devices and data while traveling:
Utilize a VPN if accessing a public WiFi network. Alternatively, utilize a mobile hotspot instead of public WiFi.
Do not utilize USB charging stations or charging cords which are not yours. You can also invest in a data blocker in order to utilize USB charging stations.
Password lock all of your devices with a strong password, such as 6 digits for a phone or a complex, unique, 12 character password for a computer.
Utilize a tracking technology on your device and if possible, a remote access program which can terminate access to the device should it be stolen.
Maintain positive control of your devices. Never place your devices in checked baggage and carry them on your person at all times if possible.
Never leave your devices in plain site in a hotel room.
See below for more detail on keeping your devices safe while traveling. Also, please note that the location you travel to will have an impact on the risk you take when traveling. If you have more questions about a specific location or things to keep in mind, feel free to reach out to us!
Public WiFi:
Using public WiFi increases the risk that your personal or business devices may be attacked with the intent to steal personal or business information. In an early 2023 study by Forbes Advisor, of 2,000 employed American participants, 43% had their online information compromised while accessing public WiFi. Of those, 23% had their information compromised over airport WiFi and 20% over hotel WiFi. There are several ways that an attacker can access your technology if you are connected to public WiFi and not utilizing protective measures, including:
Malware: A threat actor can infect a public network with malware that infects anyone who signs into the network. Viruses and worms can both easily infect a device using public WiFi.
Rogue network: A fake WiFi account that looks like it is free WiFi but is run by a threat actor in order to infiltrate devices.
Session hijacking: A threat actor can use a public WiFi session to breach a device while the user is internet browsing. The threat actor can then see the websites the user is accessing and could gain access to personal login information.
Ways to protect your devices when utilizing public WiFi:
Utilize a VPN, including on your cellular devices. The VPN will ensure that your web searching and usage is protected with end-to-end encryption and keeps the device secure from data breaches. When you are done utilizing the network, restart your computer and remove the public network from your list of trusted networks so your device does not automatically connect to the network.
Instead of utilizing public WiFi, use a mobile hotspot from your phone.
USB Charging Stations:
Airports and hotels now commonly have USB or USB-C charging ports available for travelers. These ports can contain modified malware devices which can infiltrate your device to disperse a virus, steal information from the device, or lock you out of the device.
Ways to protect your devices from USB charging stations:
Do not use a charging station with cords already provided and do not plug your device directly into a USB or USB-C charging station. Utilize your own cords and own AC adapter.
Invest in a data blocker. A data blocker is a small device that plugs into the USB or USB-C for your charging cord and then can be plugged into a USB wall port. The data blocker blocks data pins so if the USB port is infected, the data from the USB cannot go to your device and your data cannot go to the USB port.
Stolen Devices:
Whether for money or for the data on the device, stolen devices are a potential problem when traveling. In order to protect your data and devices consider the following:
Password-lock all of your devices. Your devices should have a password lock that is at least six (6) numbers long for a phone and 12 characters long for a laptop. If you’re using a laptop, you should use a complex, unique password for your log in. Should someone steal your devices or try to access your devices, this will make it more difficult to access your personal or business information.
Utilize a tracking technology on your device and if possible, a remote access program which can terminate access to the device should it be stolen.
Maintain positive control of your devices. Never pack your technology in your checked luggage. If staying at a hotel and you are unable to keep your devices on your person, never leave technology in plain sight.
An in room safe that is mounted into the wall (unable to be removed) is the best option if leaving your devices. However, keep in mind that hotel workers are able to open the safe and could try to access your device.
Utilize the “do not disturb” tag if leaving items in your room. While this will not guarantee individuals will not enter the room, it will deter some traffic.
Utilize a laptop lock that is compatible with your laptop. The laptop lock will need to be secured to an item that is immovable within the room or is extremely heavy.
4. Utilize a privacy screen and be aware of what information you are showing others from your devices when in public spaces