Summertime Fun: How to Book and Travel Safely

Being connected while on vacation also means staying safe. Use these tips for optimizing your gadgets’ security/privacy, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy!

Planning and research

Before you leave

https:// Only book from secure websites Booking your tickets and tours online? Make sure you use a reputable site with a URL that begins with ‘https’.

Secure your bank accounts and credit cards Be sure to notify your bank and credit card companies of your travel itinerary and anticipated, large purchases.

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Update your phone Take the time to ensure all your software is up-to-date, so that you have the newest features, improvements, and most importantly, security fixes.

Verify anti-theft software Make sure your phone’s anti-theft software is set to remotely wipe your data, in the case of loss or theft.

Set up two-step verification This is a method for securing all of your online accounts, when you log in, through an extra layer of security – usually in the form of a code sent in a text message.

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Remove sensitive documents and data Leave behind what you don’t need. If there are sensitive documents or data accessible from your devices, consider temporarily removing and copying them onto external storage.

Be aware of your phone’s geolocation settings When you post an image to social media, you might be posting your exact location via the default ‘geotagging’ data. Disable your phone’s geolocation feature and don’t proactively tag your location, so people won’t know you are away.

En route and while on vacation

Beware of free Wi-Fi Avoid pulling up private documents or your online banking information, when using free Wi-Fi. If you are in a coffee shop, hotel or airport, make sure you are using the legitimate, free Wi-Fi service by asking a staff member how to access it.

Be wary of public computers There’s no harm in using a public computer for tasks that don't require you to log into an account, because malware can secretly copy your information.

If you must access personal accounts on a public computer, be sure the sites you visit have an ‘https’ web address. It's also a good idea to clear the Internet browser's cache, history, and cookies, after you're done.