Your security on the internet during your holidays
Data is everywhere, so it’s important to understand what data security is and to adopt best practices to protect yourself during the summer holidays.
Holidays rhyme with rest, sun and family… To avoid falling into the traps of hackers this summer, follow a few simple security rules. They do not take a vacation, on the contrary, they adapt to the summer period to refine their tricks and scam attempts.
Hackers’ traps
The goal of cybercriminals in the summer remains the same: to steal confidential information from you in order to use it. In summer, during the holidays, their techniques adapt to your changes of rhythms…
In this specific context, you could receive an email from your airline informing you of a problem related to your trip… Is it really your company or a malicious email ? Even on vacation, take the time to always check the content of your emails, links and downloads before clicking on them.
Same with the reservation centers: hotel, vehicle etc. A doubt about the origin of the email? It will always be safer and faster to find a solution by calling the central office directly
On vacation, we all check our emails more often on our smartphones than on our computer. You should know that being less secure, we are 3 times more likely to be victims of a phishing attack through our phones. We are also less vigilant, the lack of attention due to the summer context and mobile consultation plays against us against cybercriminals.
Cybersecurity: the right actions before your holidays
Beware of offers that are too tempting to be true at the time of your reservations. The travel agency or the establishment / company, remains the best way not to take any risks and not to be disappointed.
If you find a good offer on a site, check the user ratings as well as the security of the pages on which you make your payments.
Remember to back up all the data of the devices you take with you on vacation, in case of loss or theft.
Avoid announcing your departure on vacation on social media if you are not sure about the privacy settings of your accounts. Your friends and family will be delighted to know that you are going out in the sun and the cybercriminals too… it will be all the easier for them to accurately target their phishing based on your travel dates and destination.
Update your apps… Updates help fix some security vulnerabilities. You might as well do them before leaving to have a light mind when arriving at your holiday destination.
Your safety on the internet while on the go
Be especially vigilant when using public Wi-Fi networks. This type of connection is particularly risky. Some individuals may access your personal data. Disabling the automatic connection to open wifi networks is the 1st reflex to have.
Setting up a VPN on your different devices is a solution to be able to connect to a secure network even when it is public… Find out before you go.
Also avoid public computers, when they are made available to you at your place of accommodation for example. Their security is not always reliable, the data you enter could be stolen.
More and more public places are providing charging stations via USB ports. By plugging in you could be infected with malware. It is advisable to take your own portable charging station, or to connect directly to the current via a full socket without going through the terminals provided for this purpose.
Enjoy your holidays
Once all the right reflexes are in mind, all you have to do is enjoy your holidays, with a light mind, with maximum security.
And keep in mind that your devices do not like heat : a computer or a phone left a little too long by the pool in full sun or in the car are all potential causes of overheating and therefore: lost data, alteration of the touch or battery, but also messages of errors and unforeseen cuts.
