Identity theft can happen to anyone of us. We don’t just have to worry about it when we are home, we also need to be especially vigilant when we are traveling. Because of the fact that we are moving quite a bit through different cities, using various WiFi connections and surrounded by a lot of people we don’t know, travelers have a lot of exposure to those that want to steal their identity. Fortunately, there are several ways to protect yourself from identity theft while traveling.
Use Passwords
Thieves can easily grab your devices when you are traveling. All it takes is leaving your laptop, phone or tablet unlocked for a few seconds and a thief could grab it and then have access to all of your personal information. You can combat this by always making sure your device is locked while not in use. Also, have it password protected so that even if someone does steal it they won’t be able to gain access to all of your personal information. When choosing a password make sure it isn’t too short or too easy as both types of passwords can easily be figured out.
Look Out For Unsecured Networks
Sure it’s great to be able to have access to public WiFi whenever you need it, but you do need to take into account that unsecured networks put you at risk. Identity thieves do monitor them and can steal your personal information quickly. It’s a good idea to use your smartphone as a mobile hotspot and then connect your device to the internet using the connection.
Enable The “Erase Your Data” Feature
A lot of devices will allow you to erase your data remotely. This means that if you think any of your personal information is at risk you can use another device to do a remote wipe of your data. Unfortunately, this isn’t a method you should rely on because if you aren’t fast enough thieves can change the settings on your device. This is why it is helpful to always have your devices locked and password protected so you can buy yourself a little more time to wipe the data before thieves can change your settings and get to it. If your device doesn’t have an erase your data feature there are some services like one called Prey that cost less than $10 per month and have remote wiping features.
Keep Physical Pieces Of Information Secured
When you are traveling you may need to bring items like your social security card or birth certificate with you for one reason or another. If there are times to where you don’t need these items, lock them in the in-room safe along with other items that contain your personal information. This will keep you from not only losing them, but will also ensure that an ill intentioned individual doesn’t get ahold of them either.
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