Good to go: Expert advice to protect your privacy, security when you travel

Are you concerned about your privacy and security when you’re going online — away from home, or your office? We ALL should be. If you’re using the Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or library, you need to be savvy about data security to protect yourself from loss or theft.

Now that we’re in the midst of a summer season — a time when so many of us also plan to travel for vacation and take a laptop, tablet, or smartphone with us — it’s time to brush up on your tech savvy to stay safe from hackers. After all, we live in an era when many of us take our work home, travel for business, and use our personal mobile devices to shop and bank. Security is becoming a more important issue – no matter where you go.

That’s why it’s critical to know how to protect yourself and your data by following some basic best practices. Whether you’re at work or at home, or enjoying a fun vacation, use this need-to-know information as a guide to increase your security and privacy.

1) It’s not safe to use USB drives to share files and other information. Security experts are reporting that the problem runs deeper than the possibility that the thumb drive is infected with a virus. USB devices can have malware installed to completely take over a personal computer, invisibly alter files installed from the memory stick, or even redirect a user’s Internet traffic. Even worse, it’s possible for the attack code to remain hidden in the firmware even after it appears to have been wiped.

2) Know that public Wi-Fi connections aren’t totally secure. Using your laptop, tablet, or smartphone at a café, library, in a hotel, or at the airport can leave you vulnerable. Always be cautious about what information you send and the sites you visit.

3) Get savvy about encryption to protect your data. One option is to use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your personal data in wireless hotspots. This is important for anyone who uses public Wi-Fi access, whether or not you’ve paid to use the service.

4) Keep your devices up-to-date with the latest firewall protection and antivirus programs. It’s also very important to make use of the most current operating system patches. What does that mean? Only surf the web using the latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or your web browser of choice.

5) Use an email filtering service. Unfortunately, malware and viruses are often sent out through spam or email from a friend or colleague who may have had an account or computer hacked. An email filtering service hosted by a third party provides another important layer of protection for your machines and data.

6) Set a policy for employees on where, how, and which devices can be used to access company data. Do your employees check their email from a smartphone? That can increase productivity, but you need to have a system in place to secure your data.

Bonus tip: No matter the size of your business, it’s always a good idea to speak with an IT professional to help review your network operating system, set great privacy policies, and streamline your IT system. If you need additional advice or information, please let us know. We look forward to hearing from you!