Nowadays, we can’t imagine our lives without smartphones. We take them everywhere. However, most users don’t’ realize how much data and sensitive information they carry around. Hackers and cybercriminals can take advantage of that and turn things around. That’s why it’s important to take precautions and protect your device. It’ll also come in handy when traveling. So, let’s find out how to keep your device and data safe during trips.
Top 7 tips
- Clean up your smartphone before the trip. Delete things you don’t need and move important files to a safer place (like an external drive). It has another advantage as it frees more space for making new memories.
- Turn on password and biometric protection. Modern phones have so many security features including Face ID and fingerprint locks. Start using them in case you weren’t. They can prevent other people from using your smartphone.
- Turn off location tracking on apps and adjust privacy settings. When you are traveling, apps collect lots of data about you. While it could be helpful in some situations, privacy is more likely to help you keep the data safe.
- Backup your data. It’s a great idea to back up important data like phone numbers, photos, etc. In case you lose your smartphone or it gets stolen, you’ll be able to recover the data. Leave the flash drive or external hard drive at home.
- Be careful with public Wi-Fi. Traveling abroad we are so used to free Wi-Fi spots in airports, hotels, cafes, etc. However, it’s one of the most dangerous places for your smartphone. Hackers can easily intercept your data and steal your personal information. If you can’t help using these hotspots, it’s better to buy a reliable VPN to encrypt your data. VPN services will protect your mobile making you anonymous when you go online and encrypting the data lest hackers got your credit card number (or other information).
- Turn on Find My Phone and remote wiping. These are very helpful apps that will let you find the lost phone or clean up the device if it gets stolen.
- Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you don’t use them. Some apps constantly search for access to the Internet or Bluetooth networks. Secure your data by turning these features off.
You should also take several precautions. For instance, check with your carrier before the trip. If you pay phone insurance, you’ll easily get a replacement since some carriers ship globally.
Another way to keep your data safe is to get a protective screen and case for your phone. It’s especially helpful if your smartphone is the only place where you store your data. You might not think about this detail but the truth is that it can come in handy.
Conclusion
There are many ways to protect your smartphone when traveling. The best choice, however, is to use a combination of them. Use the tips from this article to help your smartphone stay secure. And get antivirus if you don’t have one.