A woman downloads a VPN on a laptop to help protect her online security. Picture: Pexels
With peak travel season about to start, scammers are preparing to target unwary travellers. For this reason, it’s important travellers take care of their personal information when making bookings and travelling.
Specialist investigator Mike Bolhuis from Specialised Security Services (SSS) warns that with the coming school holidays and peak travel season, it is critical people be even more vigilant.
SSS not only investigates violent crimes, serious economic crimes and cyber crimes but also focuses on crime prevention by educating the public on proactive, personal safety measures.
“When planning to travel, you must prioritise cyber security to protect your personal information and mitigate potential risks,” he says.
To help protect you when making travel plans or travelling, Bolhuis shares the following tips.
Use strong, unique passwords
The security expert advises travellers to create strong, unique passwords for each online account, and to refrain from using the same password across multiple sites.
“Consider employing a reliable password manager to store and manage your passwords securely.”
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
Bolhuis also recommends you activate 2FA on all your accounts whenever possible as this additional layer of security requires a second form of verification beyond your password.
Update software and apps
When it comes to your apps, he says it is imperative to ensure all your devices, including smartphones and laptops, have the latest updates and security patches installed to help keep them secure.
Use secure connections
“Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your internet connection and safeguard your data.”
Monitor your financial accounts
Bolhuis also notes it is important to monitor your financial accounts.
“Regularly scrutinise your bank and credit card statements for unauthorised transactions, and immediately report any suspicious activity.”
Secure your devices
When it comes to devices, the security expert highlights that you should use passwords or biometric locks such as fingerprints or face recognition to secure your devices.
“If your device has remote wipe capabilities, ensure they can remotely erase data if lost or stolen.”
Be cautious with sharing personal information
He also advises you to be cautious with personal information.
“Avoid sharing personal information, such as travel plans or location details, on social media or public forums, to avoid becoming a target for scammers.”
Backup important data
Another important thing to consider is backing up your data to ensure data recovery in case of device loss or theft. Regularly back up important documents and information to a secure location, such as an encrypted cloud service or an external hard drive.
Verify travel and accommodation bookings
Bolhuis also cautions travellers to use reputable travel agencies and booking platforms and to double-check email confirmations and ensure the URLs of booking sites are correct and secure.
Be wary of phishing scams
“Exercise extreme caution with emails or messages requesting personal or financial information, especially if they appear from travel companies or financial institutions. Verify the legitimacy of the sender before providing any information.”
Secure your home network
The security expert also said that before travelling, secure your home Wi-Fi network with a strong password and encryption to prevent unauthorised access while you’re away.
Consider travel insurance
And lastly, he says it is advisable to purchase travel insurance that covers cyber threats and theft, to provide additional protection in the event of data breaches or loss of personal information.