How to keep your data safe while traveling
Are you studying abroad? Planning a vacation in another country? Here are tips to keep your accounts, data, and devices as safe as possible no matter where you go.
Stick with the technology that you know.
Any time you use public Wi-Fi networks or devices that you don’t know, you run the risk of having your personal information accessed and stolen.
- Install Rutgers Virtual Private Network (VPN) from the University Software Portal, which allows you to get secure remote access to private university resources from your personal computer. It’s free and safe to use.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi networks. These networks are not encrypted, meaning they are easy for people to hack into and see what you’re doing online.
- Avoid using public computers in hotel lobbies, restaurants, and internet cafés. Logging into bank accounts, social media networks, or any other personal websites on a computer anyone can use is a recipe for a data disaster.
- Consider disabling Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on your devices whenever you are in a public area and aren’t using them.
Being cyber secure starts with your password.
Your password is the key to your data. In order to protect yourself, you have to protect your password first.
- Use strong passwords to secure your device. Adding numbers, special signs, and a mixture of capital and lowercase letters will help keep hackers away.
- Mix up your passwords. Don’t use the same password for all of your accounts and make sure to change each password before and after you travel.
- Before you travel, set up Rutgers two-step login, which requires additional confirmation of your identity to access many Rutgers online resources. You can use two-step login when traveling abroad. All available authentication methods should work if you have cellular service or internet access.
- For mobile devices, add a security feature like a finger swipe or face recognition.
Add extra layers of security.
You can never be too careful when it comes to your personal account information, so plan ahead and implement additional security measures.
- Install antivirus software. Take advantage of the free antivirus software options Rutgers offers for university-owned devices and personal devices.
- Be aware of your surroundings when typing in a password or sensitive data on your device. Anyone can be watching what you’re typing.
- Never leave your device unattended.
- If you’re unsure about an email, don’t click on it or reply. It’s better to delete an email than open yourself up to a virus on your device or identity theft.
Tags: antivirus, security, two-step login, University Software Portal, VPN
