4 tips for not leaving cybersecurity vacations

Vacation, finally! Now is the time to take it easy, but not completely: follow these few tips to avoid negative consequences for your personal data online.

Pay attention to public internet networks

You are finally on vacation! As you wait for the children to choose their ice cream cone in a Montreal ice cream parlor, you notice that there is a free wi-fi network. In order to avoid burning your cellular data, it may be tempting to log in to check your Facebook messages or check your bank account balance.

However, these are networks that present their share of risk.

Some cybercriminals set up fake hotspots with a name similar to a real wifi hotspot. They can also hack your data over the Wi-Fi network, in addition to listening to conversations on the same network and accessing personal information.

The Government of Canada recommends that you use a virtual private network (VPN) for safe browsing, turn off Wi-Fi when you are not using the Internet, and use a firewall.
Don’t over-share photos

A beautiful photo of Percé Rock for your friends and family to appreciate how lucky you are to be on vacation could turn into a golden opportunity for cybercriminals.

If you are using your smartphone to take photos, be sure to turn off geotagging in the settings. Most phones show where the photo was taken, and while many social networks don’t keep this information after the photo is posted, it’s best to be careful.

Update your applications

The applications on the phone may contain flaws which are corrected by the developers. The same is true with your smartphone’s operating system.

Some hackers take advantage of these known flaws to break into your device.

Updating all applications, even the most trivial, is a way to minimize your risks and promote the protection of your data and personal information.

Beware of some booking sites

In a short article from RBC Bank, it is noted that a 2015 study by the American Hotel and Lodging Association found that approximately 15 million hotel reservations are affected by fraud annually.

According to an expert cited in the article, any booking sites that ask for credit card information in full can also be vulnerable to a cyber attack. According to this expert, it is better to promote online payments with tools such as PayPal or Apple Pay.

Read more about our members: Sunphinx: Protecting Organizational Assets From Cybercriminals