How To Stay Safe When You Travel The World

When you think of safety, especially in the context of traveling, you think of physically staying safe, right? Whether it’s a luxurious road trip where you plan to do some jewelry shopping or even budget travel, you’re going to stay vigilant so you’re physically safe and, of course, not scam.

But here’s the thing: That’s not the only form of safety while traveling that you should think about. 

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As you know, wanderlust is often accompanied by a slew of gadgets and the need to stay connected. These might be apps that you have to use to check into your flight, apps for saving some money on a hotel reservation, or GPS, but overall, nowadays, they’re needed. But at the same time, they also open the door to cyber threats that can turn your dream trip into a digital nightmare. 

Usually, you just don’t put two and two together, right? But it’s not just everyday life outside of travel that puts you at risk; even during your actual travels, you can be put at risk, too! So, how can you stay safe? Well, here’s how you can make sure you don’t fall victim! 

Prep Your “Digital Backpack” Before You Go

Just as you wouldn’t start on a trip without packing your travel essentials, prepping your digital life is pretty important, too. But what does this even mean? Well, you’re going to want to start by updating all your devices and apps. Those annoying notifications about updates? They often include vital security patches that keep hackers at bay. Don’t forget to install reliable antivirus software and make sure it’s up to date.

Another must-do is backing up your data. Now, it’s your choice whether you’re wanting back up everything onto the cloud or an external hard drive, but generally speaking, having a copy of your important files can save you from a lot of heartaches if your device gets lost or stolen. And while you’re at it, enable encryption on your devices. But why? Well, this means that even if someone gets their hands on your laptop or phone, they won’t be able to access your data without a password.

Stay Cautious with Public Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is a traveler’s best friend and worst enemy. While it’s tempting to connect at every coffee shop and airport lounge, public Wi-Fi networks are notorious for being breeding grounds for cybercrime. 

So, you’re probably better off not using any public wifi in the slightest. But suppose you have basically no choice at all and need to use it. In that case, you need to try to have layers of security if you can, such as masking your IP address and location or even afterward (or before) looking into changing your IP address for safety, here are some instructions so you can easily get the job done.

But overall, it’ll be in your best interest not to use public wifi and, at best, only use your hotel wifi. Make sure that it’s secured and password protected (as they’re not always protected).

Mind Your Devices Like a Hawk

It’s really scary to think about, but losing your phone or laptop while traveling can feel like losing a limb. Sure, people used to be able to travel just fine without devices, but it’s not like that anymore, everyone needs devices, and it’s basically expected on a global scale. 

So, beyond the inconvenience, it can also pose a serious security threat. Keep a close eye on your devices at all times. Use hotel safes for storing gadgets when they’re not in use, and avoid leaving them unattended in public places. Phone theft is far more common than you might think!

So, it’ll be a good idea to look into setting up strong passwords and enable biometric authentication like fingerprint or facial recognition where possible. This adds an extra layer of security. If your device supports it, activate the “find my device” feature. This can help you locate it if it goes missing and remotely wipe your data if necessary. Basically, the more effort you put into making it hard to access your phone, usually, the safer you’ll be. 

Wrapping Up