ESET: If you are one of those travelers who can't go anywhere without their smartphone, tablet or PC, then you should also know that cybersecurity is important even on vacation. Especially if you do banking and online shopping via public connections, you need to be aware of the risks involved.
To stay protected in cyberspace and during the holidays, ESET has prepared a series of practical tips to keep all your data and devices safe:
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1. Before you leave, check if your operating system, software, and security solution are up to date and to the latest version.
2. Enable password protection and inactivity timeout on all your devices, reducing the timeout to a minimum. It is better to be constantly logged in than to lose your personal data.
3. Don't forget to back up your data before you leave home. If it's necessary to have your data with you while you're on vacation, make sure to save it to an encrypted external storage device.
4. Use only reputable Internet services. Be wary of connections that say something like “free WiFi” or something similar. Most accommodations now have Wi-Fi, ask for the password and make sure you connect to the right network. If the hotel’s internet asks you to update the software in order to connect, immediately disconnect and inform the reception or the owner.
5. Only use Wi-Fi connections that are encrypted with WPA2. Anything with lower specifications is simply not secure enough and can be hacked relatively easily.
6. If you need to use Wi-Fi to connect to your company's network, always use a virtual private network. If you need to do any online banking or shopping, avoid public Wi-Fi, and use your own data plan and hotspot.
7. Install an anti-theft solution and never leave your devices unattended in public places. If your device is lost or stolen, use the anti-theft solution to locate it or remotely wipe its contents if necessary.
Even if you don't have an antivirus solution installed and suspect your laptop is infected, ESET Online Scanner is available for free, requires no installation, and can be used to detect and remove malware.
