The best thing about today’s gadgets is that they’re easily portable. But when you’re traveling to a distant place, these handy devices can become unfortunate liabilities. This is especially the case when you find yourself a victim of theft. Indeed, important gadgets lost in transit will be difficult to retrieve, especially if you’re going to a foreign place for the first time.
Aside from this, our reliance on wireless connections has also made us more prone to hacking, putting our personal information at risk. So how can you secure gadgets during your flight or while on the road to enjoy a worry-free trip? Here are five tips:
- Secure Gadgets with Pass Codes
The most basic course of action to prevent anyone sneaking into your private file is to use passwords on all your devices. It may be tempting to set your phone to conveniently unlock with a simple swipe. But this makes it easier for a would-be thief to access your files and re-sell your device. It doesn’t matter if your security code comes in the form of a password, a PIN, or a pattern. Just make sure it’s something that only you can decipher. Avoid using easily guessable passcodes, such as your birthday or address. These can be spotted on your ID or bag tag.
Once you get home from traveling, make sure to change your passwords again as another preventive measure. Just in case any of your accounts was compromised abroad, changing the password again will at least prevent further damage.
- Don’t Bring Your Main Gadgets (if possible)
If it’s not really necessary, leave the devices containing your most important information at home. Instead, you can opt to use a temporary phone as while you’re on your trip. Though possibly being costly, it reduces the risk of your personal information getting into the wrong hands. But before leaving for your trip, don’t forget to transfer all the contacts you need to your temporary device.
- Have a Gadget Holder or Padded Sleeve
Aside from theft or hacking, another very real risk that electronic devices face abroad is mishandling. This could be on your part, or on the part of the personnel handling your luggage. When traveling via airplane, luggage is sometimes thrown around carelessly, and you won’t always be there to tell people how to handle your valuables.
These kinds of things are unavoidable parts of air travel that you just have to learn to contend with. But as the best safety measure, you can place your valuables in your carry-on luggage to bypass mishandling. Meanwhile, there are special padded laptop sleeves for bigger devices and some gadget holders for smaller ones like recorders or mobile phones. This will ensure that even if there are any bumps along the road, you’ll at least be able to minimize the damage.
- Turn Off Devices when in Transit
The best way to avoid having your devices stolen or hacked during a trip is to turn them off. This doesn’t just minimize the risk of catching the attention of criminals. It also has the added benefit of saving your gadget’s battery.
But generally, it’s best to keep your most valuable possessions tucked away safely in your bag. Only venture to take them out if you absolutely need to use them. And stay vigilant if you plan on keeping your phone out for an extended period of time while navigating with Google Maps.
- Disable Bluetooth and Other Network Sharing Options
If you’re not careful, viruses and other cyber security threats might affect your electronic devices without you even noticing. Protect your data by turning off Bluetooth and other network sharing options when they’re not in use. Transferable viruses and malware often get into your mobile phone or laptop through these means, so it’s best to turn them off if you’re not using them. Also be aware of the public Wi-Fi internet you might end up connecting to. When using your laptop, check your privacy settings to make sure your device can’t be remotely accessed without your knowledge.
Portable devices are great to carry around, especially at a time where everyone’s always on-the-go. However, you should always make sure to keep these close to you, and be on the lookout for suspicious software and also people who might infiltrate your data. Remember to always travel safely and wisely, so you can make the most out of your trip!
