5 Tips to Protect Your Personal Information during Travel

Companies have to comply with data privacy laws to prevent hefty fines and ensure the safety of their customers. For this, they hire professionals like a data privacy engineer and use consent management tools to make data compliance a breeze and efficient.

On the other hand, when you’re out traveling and having fun, you still need to be aware of the pickpockets and cybercriminals who are looking for ways to steal your personal and financial information. It’s no one else’s responsibility but yours to protect yourself from any kind of harm.

Therefore, we’ve explored 5 tips in this article to protect your personal information during traveling. Read on to know!

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Tip #1: Be Discreet With Your Valuables

Whether it’s your passport, driver’s license, credit and debit cards, or cash, make sure to keep them as discreet as possible. These items hold a lot of financial value and your confidential personal information as well, which you don’t want to end in the hands of perpetrators.

It’s better to keep your valuables in your hotel room safe and only keep a little cash with you. Use a money belt that hides under the shirt or a cross-body bag to ensure your valuables are in your sight.

Tip #2: Use Secure Websites for Travel-Related Bookings

It’s common for tourists to use their debit or credit cards to book hotels or other activities online while on a vacation. That is when most of the scams happen if you’re not careful enough.

Whenever you have to use a website to book a hotel or your next activity, pay close attention to the URL of the website. If it doesn’t start with “HTTPS” and doesn’t have a padlock on the left side, the website isn’t safe for you to enter your sensitive card details.

Then, it’s better to book that activity when you’re physically present at that spot or book the hotel from other secure websites.

Tip #3: Password-Protect Your Electronic Devices

As most of your confidential and valuable personal and financial information is stored on your mobile phones, tablets, or laptops, it’s imperative that you password-protect them.

Leaving your devices without password protection means it’s extremely easy for thieves to retrieve your information. Therefore, make sure to add passwords to your devices. Adding two-factor authentication to your accounts will also help you keep your personal information safe.

Tip #4: Use a VPN with Public Wi-Fi

Who doesn’t want to avail of free, public Wi-Fi in their hotel rooms and cafes when they are traveling? However, this leaves your personal and financial information vulnerable. It’s easier for hackers to get your bank details and passwords as you are on the same network as them.

When using public Wi-Fi, make sure to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) as it conceals your IP address and makes it almost impossible for hackers to steal your information.

Tip #5: Be Careful With What You Post on Your Social Media Accounts

Although it may be tempting for you to quickly update your followers and friends about your tremendous dream vacation and even flaunt your sun-kissed photos, you should be quite vigilant with what you post on your social media accounts.

This will allow the thieves to keep track of your whereabouts. Moreover, you don’t want them to know that your house is empty while you’re off vacationing.

Don’t post about your vacation until or unless you come back home. If you still really want to post on your social media accounts, make sure your account is private (not public).