As summer approaches, you have probably started planning vacation time whether a staycation, a road trip or traveling to some far off place. As you plan your summer, don’t forget about the safety of your digital data.
Firstly, let’s remember that the younger folk will be spending more time online. As I drive through my neighborhood on my way to the store, I drive by a park; it’s usually empty, or very sparsely populated with a few moms and smaller kids. More and more kids socialize online these days than in person. Let’s face it, it’s not the same world we grew up in. If your child wants to meet with some new friend they met online, setup a safe way for them to do that. For example, a site on internet safety, ilookbothways.com suggests that they obtain parental permission and full involvement of the parent as a requirement. Any meeting should be in a public place with the parent in attendance, at a time with plenty of people around, and after the parents have communicated both with the children involved and each other. Finally, of course, the site suggests using caution.
Staycation is important, especially when considering kids’ extra time. But summer is also that time in which we’ve earned a getaway. It’s important when escaping to keep the following considerations in mind:
- When you go on vacation, don’t advertise to others when you are going or for how long. Only your closest friends and family should know this aspect and only when entrusted to keep this info confidential. Pleaserobme.com is a great site about this very topic and its guest blog at Center for Democracy and Technology is also useful for those who want to be in the know.
- Your electronic devices can bring helpful apps to your fingertips. While traveling away to some exotic destination, remember to turn on your device finder technology. These sorts of tools will tell you where you left your electronic device as well as allow you to remotely wipe it if you no longer have control over it. There are even apps that can help you silently call for emergency help if you are in a dangerous situation. You may never have to use these during your trip but it’s always better to be safe than sorry while traveling.
- Be smart in public. Once you connect on a public unprotected network, anyone can see your data. When using public Wi-Fi, we advise you to avoid making purchases online and/or providing any personal information. Another common problem is that 1 in 10 smartphone owners fall victim to phone theft when traveling 2 in 5 will have their phone stolen out of a personal belonging, purse, backpack, etc… Remember to close your bags, keep them zipped or otherwise secured and on you at all times.
- Keep a hand on your laptop or smart device at all times. They are just as easy to pick up as a wallet and most likely contain more private data than you think.
And, while information security is important, your security in general is essential to a good staycation or trip. Read Stephen Northcutt’s “Information Security Travel Guide: Tips for Traveling” for tips related to health, hotels, international travel, and more.
Travel safely and enjoy your summer! We’ll be back in July with online game safety awareness.