How to Stay Cyber-Safe While Enjoying Your Vacation

December 22, 2023

Vacations are a great way to relax, recharge, and reconnect with your loved ones. But they can also expose you to cyber risks that could ruin your holiday mood. Hackers don't take vacations, and they are always looking for opportunities to steal your personal and financial information. That's why you must take some cybersecurity precautions before you pack your bags and hit the road.

In this blog post, we will share some tips on staying cyber-safe while enjoying your vacation. These tips will help you protect your devices, accounts, and data from potential cyberattacks and give you peace of mind while you have fun.

Tip #1: Use a personal hotspot instead of connecting to public Wi-Fi networks

Public Wi-Fi networks are convenient, but they are also risky. They are often unsecured, meaning anyone can access them and potentially intercept your online traffic. Hackers can use public Wi-Fi networks to spy on your online activities and steal your passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive information.

To avoid this risk, use a personal hotspot instead of connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. A personal hotspot is a feature that allows you to use your smartphone as a wireless router and share its cellular data connection with other devices. This provides a more secure and controlled connection, as only you and the devices you authorize can access it.

To set up a personal hotspot on your smartphone, follow these steps:

On an iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Personal Hotspot and turn it on. You can also change the name and password of your hotspot.
On an Android phone, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot & Tethering and turn on Wi-Fi hotspot. You can also customize your hotspot's name, password, and security level.

Tip #2: Don't overshare on social media

Social media is a great way to share your vacation photos and experiences with friends and family. But it can also give away too much information to hackers monitoring your online activity. By oversharing on social media, you may be revealing your location, the duration of your absence, and the details of your travel plans. This could make you an easy target for cybercriminals who may use this information to launch phishing attacks, identity theft, or even physical break-ins.

To prevent this from happening, follow these guidelines when posting on social media:

Limit the audience of your posts to only people you trust. You can adjust the privacy settings of your social media accounts to control who can see your posts.
Avoid providing excessive details about your location and the duration of your absence. For example, don't post photos of your boarding pass, hotel room number, or itinerary.
Consider posting your vacation photos after you return home instead of in real-time. This way, you won't be advertising that you are away from home.

Tip #3: Ensure the security of your travel-related accounts

When you travel, you may need to use various online services such as booking sites, airlines, hotels, car rentals, etc. These services require you to create accounts and provide personal and financial information such as your name, email address, phone number, credit card number, etc. If hackers compromise these accounts, they could cause severe damage to your identity and finances.

To ensure the security of your travel-related accounts, follow these best practices:

Use strong, unique passwords for each account. A strong password is at least 12 characters long and contains a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. A unique password is one that you don't use for any other account or service.
Consider enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) for additional protection. 2FA is a feature that requires you to enter a code or use another device (such as your smartphone) to verify your identity when logging in to an account. This adds an extra layer of security in case someone steals or guesses your password.
Monitor your accounts for any suspicious or unauthorized activity. Check your email for any notifications or alerts from the service providers. Review your account statements and transactions regularly. Report any discrepancies or fraud immediately.

Tip #4: If you have to connect to public Wi-Fi, do so cautiously

Sometimes, using a personal hotspot may not be an option due to limited data availability or poor network coverage. In that case, you may have no choice but to connect to a public Wi-Fi network. However, this doesn't mean that you have to expose yourself to cyber risks. You can still take some precautions to minimize the chances of being hacked while using public Wi-Fi.

Here are some tips on how to connect to public Wi-Fi safely:

Limit your online activities and avoid accessing sensitive information on unsecured networks. For example, don't check your bank account, make online purchases, or log in to your email or social media accounts on public Wi-Fi. Save these tasks for when you have a secure connection.
Use HTTPS websites whenever possible. HTTPS is a protocol that encrypts the data exchanged between your browser and the website you are visiting. This makes it harder for hackers to intercept or tamper with your online traffic. You can tell if a website uses HTTPS by looking for a padlock icon or the word "Secure" in your browser's address bar.
Turn off Wi-Fi when you are not using it. This will prevent your device from automatically connecting to any available Wi-Fi network, which could be malicious or compromised. It will also save your battery life and data usage.

Tip #5: Enhance your online security by using a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

A VPN is a service that creates a secure tunnel between your device and the internet. It encrypts your data, protecting it from potential cyber threats. It also masks your IP address, hiding your location and identity from prying eyes. A VPN can help you stay cyber-safe while enjoying your vacation in several ways:

It allows you to access geo-restricted content and services that may not be available in your destination country. For example, you can watch your favorite shows on Netflix or Hulu using a VPN.
It protects you from cyberattacks that may target travelers or tourists. For example, you can avoid being hacked by fake Wi-Fi networks or phishing emails that may lure you into clicking on malicious links or downloading malware using a VPN.

To use a VPN, you need to download and install a VPN app on your device and connect to a server of your choice. Many VPN providers are available in the market, but not all are reliable or trustworthy.

You should do some research and choose a VPN that has the following features:

An extensive network of servers in different countries and regions
A strict no-logs policy that ensures your privacy and anonymity
A high level of encryption and security protocols
A fast and stable connection speed and bandwidth
A user-friendly interface and customer support
A reasonable price and refund policy

Vacations are meant to be fun and relaxing, but they can also expose you to cyber risks that could spoil your mood and ruin your experience. By following these tips, you can stay cyber-safe while enjoying your vacation and make the most out of your time away from home.

Remember, cybersecurity is not only crucial for your work or business but also for your personal life and well-being. Don't let hackers ruin your vacation. Stay cyber-safe and have fun!

Finally, if you need any assistance with your cybersecurity, HUB can help! Contact us at solutions@hub.ca