[ad_1]
Now that the weather is getting hotter, many employees may be considering taking some time away from their desks. You may be more inclined to head to Barcelona for a conference or a trip with your family, but take your company phone with you.
Whether you’re traveling by plane or vacationing close to home, moving business away from your regular workplace introduces a host of new security risks. These risks include unsecured Wi-Fi networks, infected public charging ports, and Bluetooth attacks.
So if you’re taking your laptop on vacation this summer, TechRepublic spoke to experts to discover the best tips for keeping your digital devices and company data safe.
look: Essential travel tips for business people From TechRepublic Premium
1. Consult with internal security team before traveling
Before traveling with work equipment, it’s important to speak with your company’s security team to ensure you understand all policies and procedures, says Tim Rawlins, senior consultant and director of security at NCC Group.
“Working abroad isn’t always allowed; there may be visa issues or security restrictions like geo-blocking and data sovereignty issues that you may not have considered,” he told TechRepublic.
“Stay informed and be aware of common scams and threats in the areas you visit. Report any suspicious activity or potential security breaches immediately to your organization’s IT or security team.”
2. Don’t use public Wi-Fi networks
“It’s always tempting to save on data roaming charges and limits by joining public networks or WiFi,” Martin Lee, head of Europe, Middle East and Africa at cybersecurity firm Cisco Talos, told TechRepublic in an email. “However, it may be worth considering paying the extra fee to keep your data safe.”
“Shared public networks may be shared with shady characters, or networks that appear to be free to use may be malicious decoy networks used to trick the unwary. Criminals snooping on the network can steal cookies or session tokens, giving them access to your confidential services.
“Alternatively, attackers could create man-in-the-middle attacks to impersonate critical systems while intercepting and modifying data.”
3. Use a VPN
VPNs can be used on phones and laptops connected to local cellular networks abroad. “By encrypting data before it leaves the device, a VPN ensures that any data that is intercepted cannot be read,” Trevor Horwitz, founder and chief information security officer at TrustNet, told TechRepublic in an email.
“Another benefit of a VPN is the ability to hide your location by assigning you a new IP address. This helps bypass any restrictions set by your Wi-Fi provider and enhances online anonymity.”
look: 5 Best VPNs for Travel in 2024 (Free and Paid)
4. Keep your device out of sight while traveling
“When traveling, keep your device safely out of sight,” Li said. “Be aware of your surroundings when using your device. Thieves are good at snatching devices in crowded areas and stealing them when people are paying attention elsewhere.”
Rollins said to be especially careful when using mobile mapping apps to find directions. “Phones are often snatched on the street by criminals on e-bikes, or just as public transportation is about to close,” he told TechRepublic in an email.
5. Use a dedicated work device or virtual desktop solution
Horwitz told TechRepublic that frequent travelers should consider using a dedicated work device that holds only the data and functionality necessary for travel. “This strategy can improve security by isolating travel activity from the primary device, allowing for stricter security measures and reduced risk,” he said.
“Before and after your trip, wipe out specialized equipment and restore it to a clean state. Lastly, always check and analyze any suspicious activity that may have occurred during your trip.”
Any data stored on a work device should be encrypted and backed up. Horwitz says it’s best to store the backup in the cloud rather than on an external drive so you can access a copy when needed while you’re out and it updates automatically.
Alternatively, consider using a virtual desktop solution that connects remotely to office devices. “All the information and files they use are stored in the virtual environment, not on the local device,” Horwitz says. “If the device is stolen, there should be no data that can be accessed.”
6. Safe working equipment
Keeping the devices you carry with you safe starts with their built-in security settings and antivirus software.
“Protect your devices with strong and unique passwords, and enable biometric security features whenever possible,” Rawlins told TechRepublic. “Also update your software, especially your operating system, to the latest version.”
“Enable two-factor authentication on all your accounts, specifically the email that sends password reset emails, but using an authenticator app instead of a text message or email sent to your phone.”
“Reducing the number of login attempts before an account is locked out also prevents someone from guessing a bad password,” added Andrew Lungsden, security consultant at Forge Secure, in an email.
He also recommends using a personal firewall, which monitors and filters incoming and outgoing network traffic. “This ensures that there are fewer possible connections your laptop could make to untrusted WiFi networks and helps reduce the likelihood that your device will become a potential target,” Lungsden said.
7. Use a privacy screen
“If you’re working on a project that involves client information or any sensitive data, having someone sitting nearby peeking at your screen could be problematic,” Langston said.
“You can reduce this risk by installing some privacy screens for your laptop or mobile device. This is a screen protector that blocks your screen from anyone who isn’t looking directly at it and can provide an extra layer of protection for your company data.”
8. Disable USB ports
“USB ports on devices can be disabled,” Lungsden said. “In just a few seconds, a USB device is plugged into a laptop, a program runs, and the device is compromised. You probably don’t need USB ports when you’re traveling, either.”
“If you disable them before you leave for travel, you can help eliminate potential risks.”
9. Set up device lock and remote wipe
When you’re out and about with your work device, thieves are more likely to steal it while it’s unlocked, so remember to configure its lock settings.
“You can set a shorter lockout time and also ensure that the account is locked when the laptop is closed,” Lungsden said. “This can reduce the likelihood that your account can be accessed.”
He adds that remote lock and wipe features are useful in the event of a theft, as they can help ensure data protection. “Many device management systems offer features like this,” Lungsden says.
10. Choose your rental carefully
“When booking accommodation, double-check that the booking site is genuine and not a clone site which takes your money but does not provide a valid identifiable booking,” Lee said. “Never agree to pay for accommodation outside of the official booking mechanism, as you will not be able to get a refund if the booking is fraudulent.”
When living in a rental property, it’s important not to leave valuables or equipment unsecured, even in a locked room. “Room keys can be copied or stolen,” Lee says.
When you check out, be sure to log out of all devices (such as smart TVs) and don’t store any credentials. “Otherwise, subsequent guests may be able to access your account,” Lee adds.
[ad_2]
Source link
