Skip to main content

Cybersecurity Travel Tips

Cybersecurity Travel Tips

PLANNING

An open spiral notebook with a black pen and a potted plant on a white wooden surface.

 
  • ​​Be aware of connectivity limitations when travelling outside the country: The current list of Embargoed and Sanctioned Countries can be found here: Sanctions Programs and Country Information | Office of Foreign Assets Control (treasury.gov).  TSD does block access from most countries to protect the school, staff, and students. Keep in mind that in most cases, IT will not provide tech support on your trip and does ask that you leave your school devices at home when travelling. 

 

  • ​​Turn off auto-connect to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth: Airport and Hotel Wi-Fi is a hotbed for hackers trying to steal your information.  Only connect to trusted networks and Bluetooth devices. 

 

  • ​​Back up your critical data: Contacts, photos, videos, and data should be backed up to an encrypted external hard drive or on Google Drive before travel in the event of device or data loss on your trip. 

 

  • ​​Don’t wait to update apps on your phone, tablet, and laptop: Utilize the secure and stable connection you have at The School or home to update devices before you leave. 

 

 

ON

YOUR TRIP

A woman walks through an airport terminal, pulling a rolling suitcase behind her.

 

 

AT THE AIRPORT AND ON THE PLANE

  • ​​Use your cell connection over Airport Wi-Fi: Airport Wi-Fi should not be used as a trusted connection. 

​​If you must use the Airport Wi-Fi, make sure you use a VPN. Some of the top VPN personal products include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark for use on your device. If you must check your school email on your trip, you MUST use a VPN solution on that device, including on your phone. Also, confirm you are using the airport Wi-Fi by verifying the SSID (e.g., name of the network) via the airport information counter. 

 

  • ​​Do not connect to Airplane Wi-Fi: Airplane Wi-Fi is equally risky to airport Wi-Fi.  Use your phone in Airplane mode or the provided built-in headrest display for entertainment. 

 

  • ​​Be careful what you click on: Due to heavy traffic in airports, hotels, and public places, travel presents an enhanced opportunity for hackers to steal your information.  Only open emails from trusted sources and be leery of clicking on suspicious links. 

 

  • ​​​Lock your devices: Use a PIN, password, or biometrics (thumbprint or facial recognition) to lock your devices when not in use. 

 

  • ​​Avoid shopping or activities that expose your personal or school information: It’s impossible to expect that you can completely avoid financial transactions on your vacation, but try to avoid exposing financial or personal data by limiting transactions to physical and personal interactions with the hotel, cruise line, or a trusted 3rd Party.  If you must process a financial transaction, conduct business, or provide a business with personal information, make sure you are using a website that begins with “https://” 

 

AT THE HOTEL, COFFEE SHOP, OR IN PUBLIC

  • ​​Again, if you must use public or hotel Wi-Fi, make sure you use a VPN to safeguard your information. 

 

  • ​​Do not disclose public, school, or student information in public places.  

 

  • ​​Guard your mobile devices and belongings: Use the hotel safe for devices and high-dollar personal items when not in the room. 

 

  • ​​Avoid use of publicly accessible computers: Use your personal devices, as publicly available computers are often targets for hackers to steal your information and the School’s.