Online safety and the Do Nots of traveling

We've all been in the airport lounge or travel rest stop, tempted to use the public chargers. We've also used the business office in hotels to access travel information or sat in a lobby to get some work done while using a Wi-Fi connection. This makes life easier, but it also leaves us vulnerable to attack. Malicious actors hack public chargers, essentially arming them as weapons for whatever plugs in to them next-like your device. In addition, bad actors might set up Evil Twin Hotspots at public places where Wi-Fi Hotspots are set up for customers, including coffee shops, hotels, retail establishments, and airports. The goal is to trick people into connecting to a fake Wi-Fi hotspot to gain access to your IT devices and data.

Here's how to stay safe when traveling

• Do not use public USB ports to charge your mobile phone, laptop and all your electronic devices.
  • Preferably, pack your own electrical outlet charger, car charger and USB cables to keep with you and use whenever you travel.
  • If you have to use a public USB port, use a charge-only USB adaptor that charges your devices but does not transfer data.
• Never use an unsecured public Wi-Fi Network for sensitive business practices, such as banking or personal information exchange.
  • If you use a secured Wi-Fi provided by your establishment, always verify the correct name of the public Wi-Fi network with the establishment.

More tips to travel safe

To learn more about simple ways to protect yourself and those you care about from online threats anytime and anywhere, visit the VA Cybersecurity Spot.