Vacation! You have been waiting all year to kick back, relax and step out of the rat race for a while. You may have travel plans and are finally getting to visit the places you have only dreamed of all year. The last thing on your mind is protecting your technology. While we don’t want to ruin your blissfully happy vacation plans, we also don’t want you to have a technology induced headache upon your return, or even while you are off on this idyllic vacation. Thus we have compiled a list of ways you can protect your technology while you are on your dream vacation.
- Back Up – Before you head off into the sunset and dive into vacation be sure to back up your family and work devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Backing up your devices will protect your work, photos, and stored information in case of a lost or stolen device while on vacation.
- Keep your Devices Nearby – While you are focused on jumping in the pool, playing frisbee on the beach, or getting up to capture the perfect photo, criminals are focused on how to grab any unattended devices or bags. Carry your smart phone in a fanny pack that stays around your waist. Be sure to secure external USB and hard drives, and pay a little extra for a room safe in your hotel.
- Be Wary of Internet Logins – Avoid doing anything that requires me to log in if I’m on a completely open network at an airport, cafe or anywhere else to protect your data as much as possible. If something seems odd about your connection such as pop-up boxes start flashing on the screen, strange messages, etc.,  immediately disconnect and go somewhere else. Always try to connect to a password-protected network associated with the cafe or hotel.
- Quit the posting Check ins and Geo-tagging – While it might be fun to post socially where you are on vacation, this comes with some risk, especially abroad where cyber attackers can zero in on you.
- Physically Protect your Travel Devices – Be sure to have strong protective covers for all of your mobile devices. Smashing your phone can be a real bummer and can cut you off from communicating with your group depending upon how badly damaged the device is. Protective covers are useful for avoiding splashes and keeping dirt and sand away from your phone’s inner workings. Tablet covers also work in a similar way, and they’re very useful if you plan on reading, browsing the Web or checking email while on vacation.
Be safe and have fun by taking a few simple technology checks before you head off for your vacation this summer.
Categorised in: computer, mobile issues, Security, wifi