How to Keep Your Personal Data Safe While Travelling

If you want to stay protected against cyber threats and data breaches while travelling, then you need to know how to keep your personal data safe. There are various techniques and devices you can use, all of which can provide additional security measures for safeguarding your information while on the go. 

If you want to know the best ways to keep your data safe, then keep reading this short guide.

Limit data storage and use secure devices

Our phones have become central to our lives, holding all our personal data. But they can present a major security flaw if they get stolen, and since pickpockets can be rife in major cities, you’ll want to reduce risk however possible. 

We recommend removing any unnecessary files from your devices and ensuring all your essential data is encrypted. Additionally, you may find it better to store your information on the cloud and access it remotely. This can still provide you with easy access to your data, but with the added protection that there is nothing sensitive on a physical device. 

Avoid unsecured Wi-Fi networks

Ultimately, you should avoid connecting to any unsecured WiFi networks. Public networks, like those found in cafes, airports, and hotels, are often extremely vulnerable to cyber threats. Additionally, since they are high-traffic areas, it’s a prime location for hackers to steal vast quantities of data and quickly disappear. 

Relying on a private connection, or 4G/5G, provides much greater security, but there are times when a public WiFi connection is required. In that case, you should use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to encrypt your connection and prevent others from spying on your web traffic. 

Learning what a VPN is can help you use it more effectively. In short, it uses another server somewhere else in the world to surf the web for you. That server then encrypts the web traffic and sends it to your device, where you can view the results without fear of others spying on you.

Employ advanced security measures

There are various security features you can use to keep your data safe, including biometric locks (fingerprint recognition), strong passwords, and 2FA (2-Factor Authentication). 

2FA is perfect for keeping your accounts safe, especially when your password is compromised. It works by sending a unique code to a phone number, email address, or another device, and only grants access when that code is entered. 

Be vigilant with physical security

One of the best pieces of advice to keep in mind when travelling is to be vigilant with your physical security. Never leave your bags or devices unattended, especially in public. Where possible, keep them on you or use hotel safes. 

You should also be cautious of ‘shoulder surfers’, who may be trying to glimpse your sensitive information. As an added bonus, you can use ‘privacy screens’ to prevent prying eyes from viewing what’s currently on your device while staying connected.