Summer will be here soon! We all like to travel with our mobile devices (smartphones, laptops, or tablets) — whether it’s to the coffee shop around the corner or to a café in Paris. These devices make it easy for us to stay connected while on the go, but they can also store a lot of information — including contacts, photos, videos, location, and other personal and financial data — about ourselves and our friends and family.
Ways to protect yourself and others:
- Secure your devices. Use strong passwords, PINs, or touch ID on phones, tablets, & laptops.
- Now you see me, now you don’t. Disable WiFi & Bluetooth when not in use to avoid being tracked.
- Get savvy about WiFi hotspots, which aren’t secure. Limit sensitive transactions such as banking.
- Keep mobile devices, software, & apps updated to defend against malware.
- Resist sharing photos or travel adventures on social media until you return home.
When you return from a trip:
- Change all passwords you may have used abroad.
- Run full antivirus scans on your devices.
- Check your monthly credit card statements for any discrepancies for at least one year after you return.
- If you downloaded any apps specifically for your trip and no longer need them, be sure to delete those apps and the associated data.
- Post your photos on social media and enjoy reliving the experience!
Links:
- Read WCU’s Mobile Computing Devices Policy about access University information technology resources with mobile devices.
- Read University Policy 100 about traveling abroad with University-owned equipment.
- Watch this video by CNN about the dangers of public WiFi.