6 Security Tips That'll Keep the Summer Fun
Taking some time off this summer? Before you head out on vacation, make sure your devices and apps are also ready.
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Summer has arrived and it's time for a vacation — but don't forget that hackers are lurking, just waiting for you to let your guard down.
Plenty of people do, says McAfee, which in a recent blog reported that 42% of Americans either do not check the security of their Internet connections or they willingly connect to an unsecured network while traveling.
Gary Davis, chief consumer security strategist at McAfee, adds that nearly two in five Americans have been putting companies at risk of cyberattacks because they connect their work devices to unsecure Wi-Fi networks while traveling.
As always, common sense will go a long way toward staying safe while on the road. Here are six tips that will keep you safe and worry-free when you're ready to take some well-deserved time off.
Misplacing or having your devices stolen can put a damper on any vacation, says Kelvin Coleman, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). To prepare for your trip, set up the "find my phone" feature on your device. This will let you find, remotely wipe data, and disable the device if it gets into the wrong hands. As a follow-up, make sure all devices are password-protected. Use a passcode or security feature, such as a finger swipe or facial recognition, to lock your phone or mobile device.
While using public Wi-Fi at a hotel or airport is very convenient, these networks are often not secure, NCSA's Coleman says. This means anyone using the same Wi-Fi network could potentially see what you are doing on your laptop or smartphone while you are connected. Looking up a restaurant is fine, but Coleman advises limiting what you do on public Wi-Fi while you are away. Avoid logging into accounts that have sensitive information, such as bank accounts and email.
Ramon Peypoch, senior vice president of products at Vera, advises paying for a VPN service for your devices. Otherwise, use the mobile hotspot feature on your smartphone, which is much more secure that public Wi-Fi. If possible, refrain from using the Wi-Fi on the airplane, Peypoch says.
"Read a book or the airline magazine. Try to relax," he says. "Unless it's a real emergency, if you are going on vacation you don't really have to use Wi-Fi on the plane. It's not a persistent connection, so a VPN wouldn't work properly. It's just not necessary."
Even if you don't work in a regulated industry, there's no reason to forward work email to a private email account while you are away, Vera's Peypoch says. Cybercriminals go where the volume of people are, he says, and they like to attack private email accounts. While Gmail and Office 365 offer fairly good security levels, it's simply not the enterprise-class security that corporate email offers.
If you have to work on vacation, and many of us do these days, USB sticks are a convenient way to take files with you. However, Vera's Peypoch says, use them only on your own personal or work-trusted devices, and not on a hotel computer or a public computer, like at a library or a kiosk. In addition, only use a USB for which you can validate its integrity. For example, don't use one from marketing materials or passed around the office. Make sure it comes from a reputable source (if it comes from outside the corporate IT department) and that you're the only one who has used it.
If you have to work on vacation, and many of us do these days, USB sticks are a convenient way to take files with you. However, Vera's Peypoch says, use them only on your own personal or work-trusted devices, and not on a hotel computer or a public computer, like at a library or a kiosk. In addition, only use a USB for which you can validate its integrity. For example, don't use one from marketing materials or passed around the office. Make sure it comes from a reputable source (if it comes from outside the corporate IT department) and that you're the only one who has used it.
Summer has arrived and it's time for a vacation — but don't forget that hackers are lurking, just waiting for you to let your guard down.
Plenty of people do, says McAfee, which in a recent blog reported that 42% of Americans either do not check the security of their Internet connections or they willingly connect to an unsecured network while traveling.
Gary Davis, chief consumer security strategist at McAfee, adds that nearly two in five Americans have been putting companies at risk of cyberattacks because they connect their work devices to unsecure Wi-Fi networks while traveling.
As always, common sense will go a long way toward staying safe while on the road. Here are six tips that will keep you safe and worry-free when you're ready to take some well-deserved time off.
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