5 Ways to Keep Your Data Safe While Traveling

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Traveling with data can be risky these days, whether it’s personal or business related. There are the bad people like snoopers on public networks at the airport and pickpockets who want to swipe your phone. And then there are the good people, like border agents who, in the course of doing their job, may inadvertently force you into a compromising position as happened to one NASA employee. 5 Ways to keep your data safe while traveling

Best to plan ahead. Here are five tips for keeping your data safe while traveling.

1. Use a trusted VPN

You’re going to need to connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots in airports, hotels, coffee shops, and the like. You don’t know who else is connected to these networks, and you shouldn’t need to. Your company’s or a trusted third-party VPN will keep your data away from prying eyes.

2. Don’t use public USB charging stations at train stations and airports

They probably haven’t been tampered with but they’re incredibly easy for people to tamper with. Use a good old-fashioned electrical outlet. You can get yourself a USB cable that doesn’t carry data so your device can’t be hacked. Or bring your own power bank.

3. Move sensitive data to the cloud

Whether you’re concerned with confidential business data being seen by border agents, or just worried about thieves, keep that data off the device until you really need it. Do you use GSuite or Office 365?

4. Remove your password managers

This one is mostly about border agents who might have the legal right to compel you to unlock your phone and enter passwords for things. If there’s no password manager on the phone, they can’t make you unlock it. You can reinstall your password manager later when you need it. Remove from Android. Remove from Iphone.

5. Don’t hide data or be uncooperative

Border agents have a wide latitude of what they can request. Even when they request something you have the right to refuse, they may detain you longer. So plan ahead so you can cooperate without worry. And don’t rely on tricks like hidden volumes. You may get away with it, but if they’re discovered you’ll be in worse trouble.

These aren’t the only measures you may need to take but they will help you have a little more peace of mind. For more info see: 10 Ways to Keep Your Tech Safe When Traveling