14 Jun Cyber Security: 4 Ways to Travel Safe For Business

Stay safe from cyber attacks while traveling for business. Managers, owners, and employees are all embracing the flexibility of working while traveling, making it the new global norm. While you were in the office, you were protected by professionally designed firewalls, security infrastructure, and robust software. As soon as you step away from the building, those protections disappear, leaving your device and the data inside at risk.

Cyber attackers love to collect any data they can obtain, often preferring to hack first, assess value later. Almost all data can be sold, including your personal details, those of your clients and suppliers, as well as your proprietary business data. The information stored on your device is usually worth much more than the device itself.

Here are 3 ways a hacker will attack:

Flaunting Opportunity:

Whether your employee left their laptop at a café or a thief stole the device, the outcome is the same – that device is gone. Hackers will take advantage of any opportunity to gain access to a device, including taking them from hotel rooms and even asking to ‘borrow’ them for a few minutes to install spyware.

Spoofing a Wi-Fi Hotspot:

We’ve all come to expect free Wi-Fi networks wherever we go. Hackers will take advantage of this trust to create their own free, unsecure network, just waiting for a traveler to check a quick email.

Intercepting an Unsecure Network:

Hackers don’t need to own the Wi-Fi network to steal content from it. Data traveling across an unsecure network is visible and available to anyone with the right software.

It’s okay, you don’t need to lock all employees inside the building or cancel all travel plans. Taking these four precautions will increase cyber safety and help protect your business data while on the go.

1. Create backup before travelling: In the event your device is lost or damaged,  you can replace the device with a new one.
2. Don’t use public Wi-Fi: Wait until you have access to a secure network before going online.
3. Use passwords and encryption: Secure your device with a password or full drive encryption.
4. Act fast after loss: If your device is lost or stolen, immediately notify the appropriate people. This includes your IT provider, your bank, and any staff who need to be aware of the breach.

Need help with mobile cyber security? Call us at 570.235.1946 or visit our Contact Page