Smartphones, tablets and laptops are often part of today’s holiday luggage. Cybercriminals also know this and like to exploit it. So make sure you take care of your cybersecurity on the go – with our tips!

Where your cybersecurity is particularly vulnerable on the go

If you know what to look out for, you can protect yourself better. Our measures mentioned below will help you with this. Because you reduce important cyber risks typical of holidays:

• Theft, loss, defect, or compromise of your devices
• Spying on sensitive data and passwords via insecure Wi-Fi connections
• Spying on sensitive data and passwords via malware programs or apps.

Unfortunately, attacks cannot be prevented 100%. But the measures below ensure that the damage remains as low as possible in the event of an emergency.

For example: If you have stored sensitive data in encrypted form, it cannot simply be read out even after the device has been stolen. Or if you use a unique password for each user account, criminals won’t be able to unlock other accounts with a sniffed password.

Before the holiday:

• Update all the devices you want to take with you. This applies to the operating systems, programs and apps. Activate automatic updates to maintain this state on the go.
• Set up an access lock on all devices using a password, PIN, fingerprint or similar.
• Create backups of all devices that you keep safe at home.
• Set up 2-factor or multi-factor authentication for sensitive accounts. For example, for email accounts, social media accounts, etc. Make sure that you have to authenticate every time you log in, instead of enabling options like “Trust this device”.
• Optimize the passwords of all user accounts you may access on the go. Use a strong, unique password for each account.
• If possible, delete work-related data from the devices. Alternatively, you can encrypt them. Also encrypt important digital documents such as plane tickets or scans of your vaccination certificate. Instructions for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems can be found, for example, at the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).
• Install and test VPN software that you can use for all Wi-Fi connections while on vacation. Several providers recommended by Perseus offer free versions or 1-month usage periods – perfect for vacations.
• In case you don’t already know, find out how to use your smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot for your laptop.
• If your devices have particularly sensitive data or want to be on the safe side: Set up the option to remotely wipe your devices.

On holiday:

• If possible, use the mobile network for your Internet access by using your smartphone as a Wi-Fi hotspot for your laptop. This connection is often more secure than the Wi-Fi offered.
• When using public Wi-Fi services, e.g. from airports, train stations, cafés and hotel lobbies, pay meticulous attention to correct, legitimate Wi-Fi access. This is because a common tactic used by cybercriminals is to set up supposed Wi-Fi hotspots as a “man in the middle” to spy on data.
• Therefore, do not allow automatic connection to open networks.
• Use VPN software for all Wi-Fi connections on the go. As a result, the data traffic cannot be viewed so easily.
• If possible, only log in to user accounts where you use 2- or multi-factor authentication.
• Don’t use public computers to check your emails, check social media accounts, etc. This is because these computers are particularly attractive for cybercriminals to spy on the access data of many guests and are therefore often infected with malware.
• Activate interfaces such as Bluetooth only if and for as long as you use them.
• Keep in mind that publicly posted vacation pictures, e.g. on Facebook, can tell criminals that you are not at home. Therefore, only share current pictures in a carefully selected circle.

Important for holiday-related apps:

This year, in addition to local tourism apps, pandemic-related applications such as warning apps, digital vaccination passports and contact tracing apps are also playing a role. In all cases, the following applies:

• Be meticulous about installing and using only the official apps. On the one hand, to better protect your smartphone. And on the other hand, because your data as well as scans or PDFs of your vaccination certificate could otherwise easily be misused.
• Check which access rights all apps require and restrict them if necessary.
• After your vacation, delete apps that you no longer need or restrict access rights that you no longer need.

After the holiday:

You have already taken the most important measures during your hopefully relaxing holiday. If you want to be on the safe side, you can still do the following when you return:

• Check all devices for malware
• Change all the passwords you used on vacation. Even if you have been spied on, they are worthless to cybercriminals once they are changed (provided you use a unique password for each account).

Download the checklists:

Cybersecurity-before-the-holiday

Checklist-Cybersecurity-On-Vacation