Travelling? Don’t Forget Cybersecurity!
Whether it's a summer holiday or travelling for business, it's essential to keep cybersecurity front of mind during your travels.
When preparing for a trip, many people take extra precautions to ensure they are thoroughly prepared. From purchasing top-tier travel insurance and getting necessary vaccinations to backing up important paperwork and securing travel gear with locks, travellers often go to great lengths to protect themselves. However, one critical area often overlooked is cybersecurity—despite the fact that travelling can significantly increase the risk of a cyber attack.
Cybersecurity: The Overlooked Travel Essential
For businesses, it's common to double-check that CCTV is operational, equipment is securely stored, and that there are procedures in place to handle incidents while away. But why does cybersecurity so often slip through the net?
Recent research by Aviva reveals that businesses are 67% more likely to experience a cyber incident than a physical theft, and almost five times as likely to face a cyber attack as they are to encounter a fire. While equivalent statistics for individual travellers aren't as readily available, cybersecurity experts estimate that around 20% of travellers fall victim to cybercrime while abroad.
Why Cybersecurity Often Gets Forgotten
Unlike physical threats, cyber risks aren't always visible, which makes them easier to ignore. Many people and businesses operate under the false belief that "it won't happen to us." Unfortunately, this couldn't be further from the truth.
Most cybercriminals are opportunists—they don't usually target specific individuals or businesses. While some attacks are driven by specific motivations, such as political or financial incentives, many hackers deploy mass-targeting tactics, counting on the odds that they'll succeed somewhere along the line. This means anyone with a digital footprint—whether personal or business—can become a target.
Protecting Your Digital Assets
Fortunately, there are many steps that individuals, employees, and business owners can take to reduce their cyber risk and better protect themselves from attacks.
Tips for Individuals Travelling for Business or Leisure
- Avoid Public Wi-Fi: Public Wi-Fi networks are a favourite hunting ground for hackers, who can intercept your connection and gain unauthorised access to your data. Avoid using public Wi-Fi and opt for password-protected connections or use your mobile data instead.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Set up MFA across all applications where possible. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification before granting access.
- Install Anti-Virus Software: Ensure that reliable anti-virus software is installed on all your devices to protect against malware and other threats.
- Keep Software Updated: Before you embark on your trip, make sure all your software and applications are up to date. Updates often include critical security patches.
- Avoid USB Charging Stations: USB charging stations in public places can be compromised by hackers to install malware on your device. It's safer to use your own charger and plug it into a wall outlet.
- Limit Devices: Only bring the devices you absolutely need. Secure them in a safe or keep them with you at all times when not in use.
- Use a VPN: A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts your internet connection, making it much harder for cybercriminals to access your data.
- Risk Management Tools: Consider using a cybersecurity risk management tool - like DynaRisk’s Cyber Xpert - which can scan for potential vulnerabilities whilst travelling, and keep you aware of potential cyber threats.
Cybersecurity Tips for Businesses
- Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Ensure that MFA is in place across all applications and software to add an extra layer of protection.
- Conduct Regular Security Checks: Regularly audit your systems and networks to identify and address potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
- Educate Employees: Provide cybersecurity training for employees, especially those who travel frequently, so they are aware of the risks and know how to protect themselves.
- Use Encryption: Ensure that sensitive data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, so it remains secure even if intercepted.
- Backup Data: Regularly back up all critical data and ensure that backups are stored securely and are easily accessible in the event of a cyber incident.
- Risk Management Tools: A risk management platform like Breach Defence can assist you in proactively managing your cybersecurity by providing education and ongoing scans to help reduce your cyber risk level.
Both individuals and businesses should be cautious about oversharing on social media. Sharing a lot of posts can alert cybercriminals that you are away, making you more vulnerable to potential exploitation.
Stay Protected with DynaRisk
At DynaRisk, we believe everyone should have access to cybersecurity tools to protect themselves, their businesses, and their families. We partner with industries worldwide, particularly in the insurance and financial sectors, to provide our software as part of a cyber insurance policy, cyber protection programme, or benefit.
Visit our product or solutions pages to learn more about our products. For more information or a quick chat, contact us at info@dynarisk.com.