Business travel is making a comeback. After being forced to stay home and restricted to virtual meetings during the pandemic, entrepreneurs are now doing face-to-face interactions again. However, this also poses cybersecurity threats whether you’re a business leader who frequently travels to meet clients or a freelancer who loves exploring while working. In particular, there’s an increased risk to traveling entrepreneurs since they carry sensitive and money-making data on their devices.
If you’re someone who often goes on business flights and trips, you want to be extra careful when traveling. Here are important cybersecurity travel tips to remember when you’re on the go.
1. Prioritize Physical Security
You’ve probably seen reminders in public areas telling you to “Never leave your personal belongings unattended.” By being mindful of your items, particularly mobile devices and wallets, you can prevent physical theft and unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Keep high-value items secure and hidden while staying in hotels, airports, restaurants, or other crowded places, and always be aware of your surroundings. In addition, avoid using earphones that can distract you from potential threats.
2. Lock Your Devices
Entrepreneurs’ mobile devices carry critical data about their personal life and the company. Therefore, it’s essential to lock your devices to keep sensitive information safe. Most devices allow you to secure your phone using a combination of security types like password, PIN, pattern, or biometrics.
3. Invest in an RFID-Blocking Wallet
Skimmer devices are on the rise and pose a threat to anyone who has exposed cards. A skimmer device is a card reader that uses RFID technology to harvest and copy bank card information without touching or using the card. It only takes a few seconds for a criminal to hover the device over your card and gather data.
Using an RFID-blocking wallet protects your cards against skimmer devices. These secure card holders create a wall between your cards and skimmers, ensuring that your bank card information is safe and secure.
4. Use an Antivirus Software
Installing antivirus software on all your devices is an effective way to protect your personal and business data while traveling. An antivirus program monitors your device’s health and safeguards it against malware and viruses that can compromise critical information.
A free antivirus app can provide your device with basic protection and scanning features. But if you want comprehensive defense, it’s best to invest in a paid antivirus app to unlock full features. Additionally, ensure that your antivirus software is updated regularly so that you remain protected against the latest cybersecurity problems.
5. Protect Yourself on Public Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi access helps business travelers stay connected while on the go. However, connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi networks can expose critical business data to a hacker.
If possible, refrain from using free Wi-Fi in airports, coffee shops, and hotel rooms, especially when doing business communications. If it is unavoidable, connect through a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN encrypts internet traffic, keeping your data safe.
To further protect yourself, turn off your device’s auto-connect feature before traveling. This lets your device connect automatically to unsecured networks as you pass through them, leaving it open to hacking attempts.
Business Traveling With Tickets That Cheap
Travel levels are expected to rise as the pandemic slowly becomes a thing of the past. However, it also increases cybersecurity threats as criminals try to capitalize on this trend. By following the above cybersecurity tips, you can prevent your business data from traveling to unwanted destinations.
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