How to Protect Laptops and Electronic Devices when Traveling
Travelers are connected to the web and other digital platforms through electronic devices. Hence it has become very important to keep it secure. Here are 10 simple (few may be known but often forgotten) ways:
1. Be discreet in public: We generally have the best stories about attending conferences and overhearing competitors’, and confidential business initiatives. Avoid discussing sensitive or confidential information in public.Even avoid viewing sensitive information via laptop or PDA. If you must view private material in a public space, consider using a privacy filter over the laptop screen for extra security.
2. If you don’t need it, don’t bring it: Keep secure information on company’s secure central server or a thumb drive that may be stored safely at home or at work until you return. If you are required to carry sensitive information with you, consider utilizing an encrypted thumb drive.
3. Make sure your electronic devices are “travel ready”: Disable all file-sharing, peer-to-peer communications, and vulnerable ports. Laptops should be encrypted and protected with strong passwords.
Remote connections should be set to automatically disconnect after a certain period of inactivity.
4. Never leave sensitive information in your rental car or an unattended hotel room: If you wish to leave your laptop in the hotel, be sure to put it in your room safe or hotel's storage in a centralized main safe or secure holding area.
5. Avoid using open Wi-Fi hotspots: If your company provides you with VPN access, use it. Otherwise, set your computer default to require your authority before connecting to a new network.
Avoid open networks, and look for a fully deployed Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) network, which affords a higher level of security. Use public computers at your own risk.
6. Know what’s in your wallet: Before you hit the road, make photocopies of the personal material in your wallet like driver’s license, credit cards, insurance cards, etc. – front and back – and store those copies in a safe place at home.
Should your wallet be lost or stolen, you won’t be left wondering what was actually taken, and you’ll be able to quickly notify the appropriate agencies about what has taken place.
Furthermore, someone at home can always send you the duplicate information you need to get you back to where you want to be home.
