How to keep your devices safe while on vacation?

Laptops, tablets, smartphones we all use them, and even when take some days off, one of them will always be with you. Whether you need to share the gorgeous views or quickly check your work email, it’s important to be aware of how safe your internet access is.

Are public WI-FI networks safe?

The rule of thumb here, is to be aware of how your devices behave. If you connected in the past to a public hotspot with the name ‘camping-Wi-Fi’, the device will connect automatically to any Wi-Fi network with the same name.

Public networks tend to be exploited by hackers, as they can easily manipulate your connection to the network. Usually this is done by simulating a fake public WI-FI network, allowing hackers to read and modify any message traffic coming from your computer.

It is likely that your passwords are exposed when using public Wi-Fi networks, which can have a huge impact. Usually, you will see a green lock, marking the website as secure, however these fake networks force unsecure connections to exploit any vulnerabilities. Read our Chrome and Firefox penalize unsafe websites in 2017, to learn more about unsafe connections and HTTPS.

The truth of the matter is that staying safe online starts with you. Being proactive and paying attention to which networks you connect to, goes a long way in preventing malicious activities. Below you can find 8 tips on how to keep your devices safe while on vacation.

8 tips on how to keep your devices safe while on vacation: 

1. Do not connect to an open WI-FI network without a password or a verification process.
2. When connected to an open network, avoid entering personal information such as passwords and login names.
3. Even if the connection is secure (green lock) it does not mean it can be fully trusted.
4. If you are not using WI-FI turn it off on your device.
5. Avoid connecting automatically to ‘known networks’.
6. If you need to send confidential information, use your 3G or 4G connection.
7. Use a browser that remembers security requests: “to only use secure connections for this website”.
8. Change your passwords periodically.