Holidayme and Kaspersky Lab share safety tips to help travellers stay safe ahead of the travel season

As people prepare to leave on their holidays at the end of the year, one of the key priorities is finding ways to stay connected with friends and family. The good news is that cafes, airports, aircraft, hotels, and even taxis around the world now offer Wi-Fi, which you can access to share a quick social media update to let your network know your whereabouts. The downside to this habitual social media check-in is that you might be compromising your physical and online safety.

When it comes to security, one can never be too cautious – and our need to remain constantly connected to our digital community and to our work networks opens up opportunities for those with malicious intent.

Shiraz Farooqui- Head Alliances and Business at Holidayme, said: “On vacation, people are so driven and engrossed to make their holiday memorable that they completely overlook their safety, physical as well as digital. Not being aware of your surroundings can have dangerous consequences, especially if you draw everybody’s attention for being an unmindful tourist. What may be “normal” at home, may not be “normal” abroad, hence the below tips will help you curb the risk factor to a minimum.”

• Be careful when talking to strangers: Of course, travelling is all about meeting new people. However, don’t share your personal information and itinerary with strangers. Do not accept food or drink from people you don’t know, nor go somewhere with them unless they are your tour guide.
• Buy your own SIM Card: A local number will allow family and friends to reach you easily. It will also allow you to connect to the internet without having to use public WiFi, which might expose your data to potential cyber risks.
• Use a GPS system: it is advised to use a GPS systems or the good old map as this will spare you the need to ask strangers for directions.
• Keep your passport and valuables in the hotel: the safest place to keep your passport and valuables when travelling is not your bag or the front pocket of your jeans. It is the hotel safe. However, do carry a copy of your passport along with you wherever you go.

Mohamad Amin Hasbini, Head of Global Research and Analysis Team for Middle East, Turkey and Africa at Kaspersky Lab, said: “Cybercriminals have numerous ways to reach travelers wherever they are. For example, they can deliver attacks on public Wi-Fi to steal users’ banking data. Travelers often take the bait because open Wi-Fi is the only option to stay connected, without taking extra precautions such as VPN. Aside from this, with half (52%) of people still failing to password-protect their mobile devices, and only 22% using anti-theft solutions, pick pocketers that get their hands on a smartphone could be in for more of a treat than even they hope for.  Whether travelling for business or leisure, Kaspersky Lab recommends a few steps to ensure a safe experience.”

• Backup your devices: Always backup the data across all your devices, you can backup on the cloud or a physical computer.
• Use device tracking apps: such apps will help you easily track your phone in case you lost it. You can use the “find my iPhone app on iOS and “Find My Device” on Android.
• Password protect your devices: this will keep your data safe from criminals if you lose your device.
• Do not post social updates:  we advise you against posting your location or travel agenda on social media as such information might be used by criminals against you.
• Be careful on public Wi-Fi: such networks can be dangerous – you’re advised not to make any financial transactions or share any sensitive information while on public networks, but also recommended to use traffic safeguarding technologies to protect your communication.
• Talk to Your IT Department: They will have strategies and tools that will allow you to access the most important and sometimes sensitive, corporate documents without exposing them to attackers. Make sure you meet with them well in advance of your trip, as these workarounds might take a little time to put together.