Cybersecurity on vacation
Vacation time. Relaxation at last. Away from work. Simply switch off. Enjoy nature. Lying on the beach in the sun. Getting to know foreign countries and cultures. Everyone looks forward to this time every year. And cyber criminals are already rubbing their hands together. Tourists are their favorite target because they are particularly careless with their data. So that you can still enjoy your vacation without worrying, we have some tips for you today on how to protect your data while on vacation.
Preparing for your vacation – don’t forget data security
The tickets are booked, the suitcases are packed, the neighbor has been informed so that she can water the flowers – departure! But not so fast. Are you sure you’ve thought of everything? Cyber criminals are just waiting to hack into tourists’ mobile devices and spy on their data. That’s why you should make some preparations when you take your smartphone, tablet or laptop with you on vacation. In fact, the precautionary measure starts when you book your trip. Always make sure that you are dealing with a reputable travel agency. Above all, avoid clicking on alleged bargain offers that have reached you by email or text message. We emphasize it again and again: Do not click on any links in emails. Cyber criminals know that the vacation season is upon us and lure you in with particularly great offers. To do this, they sometimes create complete online travel portals with a full website and offers. Otherwise, however, these travel portals are just smoke and mirrors. Ignorant people are supposed to leave data there, which is then misused by cyber criminals. Therefore, only trust portals that you know or check the ratings and reviews of other holidaymakers online. Make sure that these reviews appear genuine. You will usually need a few documents for your trip. Your identity card, passport, visa or medical documents may be important for entering other countries. To ensure that you carry these with you safely, security experts recommend carrying copies of these documents on your smartphone or other mobile device. This way, if a document is lost or stolen, you still have a backup to hand. Logically, you should secure the copies and all data on the mobile device in general with a password, fingerprint or pattern and never do without two-factor authentication. The Authenticator from Reiner SCT is ideal for this.
Security for all data on vacation
Precaution is good, but it doesn’t necessarily protect you. That’s why you should also follow a few safety tips when on vacation. A simple tip that is often ignored: Don’t let your belongings out of your sight. Yes, the sea is tempting when the sun is blazing and the beach seems to glow. But if you leave your belongings unattended on the beach while you swim in the sea, don’t be surprised if all you have left is a pair of swimming trunks. There are waterproof cases for smartphones and tablets. You shouldn’t leave your laptop on the beach anyway. It is better to leave it in trustworthy hands at the hotel reception to look after it. For the best possible data protection, all devices should always be equipped with the latest updates. Security software can also protect against attacks. Open Wi-Fi spots at airports or in hotels are very tempting. However, these not only entice tourists, but also hackers. Cyber criminals find a loophole here to access other people’s data. They often even set up their own Wi-Fi spot, which tourists then use to log in and their data is exposed. Ideally, you should surf away from the sea using your own mobile data or buy a prepaid SIM card locally. Above all, never access your online banking or company mailbox via open Wi-Fi networks. You should also avoid other areas where particularly important data is stored. This is particularly interesting data for hackers. Security experts agree that a VPN offers the highest level of security for your own data.
Attention! Social connections on vacation!
We know it’s tempting to constantly share the best pictures from your vacation on social media. But have you ever thought about what information you are giving away? For example, that you’re not at home. Before the rise of the internet, it was a criminal scam to decipher the address labels on suitcases at the airport. This told criminals who was traveling and whose house or apartment might be unguarded. Today, they can easily obtain this information via social media. So be careful about revealing too much. Social engineering is also a popular form of data collection on site. Attackers use false pretenses to gain the trust of their victims. The best-known form is phishing via emails. Phishing emails promise something that would help the victim, but instead the email taps into the victim’s data. However, social engineering also works outside the Internet. On vacation, for example, by distributing USB sticks to unknowing tourists. Hackers distribute USB sticks to tourists as promotional gifts. However, these USB sticks already contain malware that automatically installs itself as soon as the USB stick connects to a laptop. So we can only advise you to be particularly careful when on vacation. Then your vacation will be relaxing and not a trip to hell. We wish you a safe journey.
