When you’re travelling overseas, you face quite a considerable list of risks to weigh and consider. You might worry about pickpockets on crowded subways, sunburn on scorching beaches, or medical insurance for that ski trip. But what you might be forgiven for overlooking are the digital threats faced by tourists.

More than ever before, the world of travel is highly digitised. And this creates myriad opportunities for malicious actors to target unsuspecting tourists. In order to combat this, however, we need to make ourselves aware of the shape of the problem. Let’s take a look.

Fake Booking Sites and Phishing Messages

When you arrange a holiday, the chances are that you’ll spend some time engaging with websites, and dealing with email correspondence from airlines, hotels, and travel platforms. But how can you tell when a website or email is genuine?

Generally speaking, the best approach is to err on the side of caution. Inspect the URL of the site you’re being directed to, and beware of any email that urges you to act quickly. If you’re invited to log in again, then you might be about to enter your personal information into a fake web form. Think twice before you do this.

The Risk of Public Wi‑Fi and Rogue Hotspots

As you travel, you might be tempted to log on to public Wi-Fi networks, for the sake of convenience and cost-saving. But these networks should be treated with caution. Any person on the network could pose as the router, and effectively trick your machine into sending data to them instead of the wider internet.

Stick to cellular data where possible. Make sure that the network name is verified, and that you don’t conduct sensitive transactions using these networks. A good VPN for iPhone might be extremely helpful, too.

Device Theft, Malware and ‘Juice Jacking’

When you’re transporting digital devices from one place to another, you run the risk that those devices will be stolen, and all of your data will be taken. Physically securing laptops, tablets and phones is essential. You’ll also want to be wary of unknown charging ports. What appears to be a harmless five-volt USB charger might actually be a means of stealing all of your data.

Make sure that your devices are locked, constantly, and that you have a means of remotely wiping them. Your data should also be backed up before you leave.

Simple Habits to Stay One Step Ahead

There are a few simple habits that might allow you to reduce the risk you face. The first is to keep your software updated, and to enable automatic updates for operating systems and other essential software. Multi-factor authentication might be used to protect sensitive details. Passwords should be unique and complex, and you’ll need to get into the habit of thinking twice before you connect to anything using your devices. A little bit of vigilance can go a very long way!