Keep Your Data Safe While Traveling

Keep Your Data Safe While Traveling

As the world slowly reopens and recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, many people are starting to scratch their travel itch. Businesses still employ remote workers or a hybrid of in-office and a remote workforce. Working remotely is very much a part of our lives, and with cyberattacks on the rise, it is important now more than ever to keep internet security high on your list of priorities while traveling.

Whether you are working remotely or conducting business while traveling, having a secure internet connection is paramount. Since you’re not in your office with your company’s digital protections, it may be a bit more complicated these days to find the best and most secure connection. In some countries, internet service providers can store, distribute, and sell your data to third parties, some governments conduct mass surveillance, and hackers are constantly looking for opportunities to obtain your data. We put the following list together of some “Do’s” and “Don’ts” to consider while traveling in this digital age.

Avoid Public Wi-Fi

Although Wi-Fi is accessible just about anywhere, like a café, laundromat, or hotel, it is not the most secure internet connection. Anyone can create a hotspot at a hotel and call it “Hotel Free Wi-Fi”. Connecting to a public network can compromise your online privacy. You won’t know who the internet service provider is or what their policy on storing and selling data is. If you absolutely must use public Wi-Fi, don’t do anything that involves sensitive data like banking or company business. It is also wise not to log into your email account(s) or shop online in which you will be required to enter private and payment information.

Increase Security on Public Networks

It is almost impossible to avoid using a public network while traveling. If you must conduct personal or company business on a public network, here are a few measures you can put in place to increase your security:

• Confirm the name of the network: When you are at a business, such as a café or hotel, and you search for an open Wi-Fi network in public, make sure the one you are connecting to is not fake. Verify the network name with the business you are in before you connect.
• Use a network that requires a password: A Wi-Fi network that is open and does not require a password to connect is very risky. Anyone has access to that connection. Choose a network that requires a password or a registration to prevent hackers from easy access to your data and information.
• Use HTTPS: When checking your email or entering credit card information it is important to note that the website is using a secure HTTP protocol in your browser to make sure your information stays safe. If a website starts with “https” it means it’s encrypted and secure. If the website is missing the “s”, it is not secure and anyone can watch what you are doing.
• Use strong passwords: If a password is easy for you to remember, it will be easy for a hacker to crack. Use strong passwords that are long, at least 8 characters, and incorporate a mix of upper and lower case letters, symbols, and numbers.

Use a VPN

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) will allow organizations to access files remotely. Encryption is the process of scrambling information and data so that it cannot be read by anyone outside of your protected network. Without a VPN, all your internet traffic is potentially exposed. Connecting to the internet through a VPN will stop cybercriminals from accessing your data because the VPN encrypts your connection. A VPN encrypts and transmits data while it travels from one place to another over the internet. This connects a remote computer, laptop, and other devices to your office server. VPNs are great for privacy and security online. You can set up a VPN on your cell phone and other devices as well.

In today’s new world of remote workforces, businesses can use VPNs to establish secure connections between their network and their employees’ devices. Employees can access resources on the business’ network once connected. Remote access VPNs provide companies with an affordable way to secure data sent by employees on or off-site.

Benefits of Using a VPN:

• Enhanced data security
• No malware, phishing, or ads
• Online privacy
• Bypass geo-blocking

Radius Executive IT Solutions provide professional technical service and support that gives you the manpower, knowledge, and experience necessary to ensure your IT infrastructure is working as it should, no matter where your workforce may operate from.

For more information on how to keep your sensitive data safe and secure, give us a call at (978) 528-0110 or send a message over to info@radiusits.com.