Cybersecurity is something that should be taken into consideration when planning for your trip, whether you are traveling internationally or domestically. It often gets overlooked, but there are many aspects to maintaining a safe online and physical presence while traveling. 

BEFORE TRAVELING 

Before you take off on your winter vacation, there are a few things you should do to ensure the safety of your devices and information. Prepare your tech by backing up your data and leaving any personal, restricted or university data at home. Verify that your devices have encryption, and all software and malware are up to date. Lastly, you should confirm your cellular coverage for the destination you are traveling to with your mobile provider.  

DURING TRAVEL  

Always confirm a network is secure before connecting to it. If you connect to an unsecure, public network, avoid entering any sensitive information such as banking account numbers or login credentials. Never post your location online! Not only does this tell people exactly where you are and what you're doing, but also that you are not home.  

While traveling, you should also be cautious of plugging your device into any outlets. It is best to purchase a data blocker to use when charging or plugging your device in an unknown or unfamiliar place. When not using your devices, you should store them in a Faraday bag to protect against data theft.  

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month! The month of October is dedicated to providing resources and awareness to help people around the country stay safe online. Everyone can take simple steps to protect themselves when using technology and the internet such as identifying and reporting phishing emails, using MFA and keeping your software updated. For more tips and information on how you can stay cyber safe, visit the IT Services cybersecurity checklist or the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).