As a seasoned digital nomad, you likely keep your laptop in a ratty old case, back up everything in the cloud, and have a subscription for one of the best disaster recovery services. This is certainly an excellent foundation. However, there’s a lot more to cybersecurity on the road than most people think. To ensure you’re not leaving yourself open to attack, consider actioning the following tips:
1. Use a VPN
VPNs can be a pain for digital nomads, especially if you’re in a cafe or apartment with patchy wifi. However, your Virtual Private Network may be the only thing standing between you and session hijacking or Man-in-the-Middle attacks.
With a VPN, it becomes far more difficult for would-be hackers to monitor or intercept your online activity. If you’re a full-time employee, your company may be willing to purchase a plan for you. As a sole trader or business owner, you should be able to claim your VPN plan back on tax.
2. Track your gear
From digital tracking tags in your luggage to things like the Apple “Find My” feature, it’s crucial to ensure you can track your technology if the worst happens. Many people focus entirely on the online side of things when they think about cybersecurity. However, it’s important to remember that keeping your physical belongings safe is crucial too. From your passport to your journal, many non-tech items can also be used to enact cyberattacks and steal your identity. So, take this step seriously.
3. Always update your software
If it takes a noisy alarm to get you to approve that overnight update on your laptop, do it! Set that reminder because a device running on outdated software is one that’s far more at risk of being hacked.
Software updates almost always come with patches and fixes for newly discovered vulnerabilities. You don’t want to be the only digital nomad in the café who’s operating with an unpatched system.
4. Be careful with dating apps
The digital nomad life can get lonely. It’s common for travelers to turn to dating apps when they want a bit of company (sexy or otherwise), but this can present some physical and cybersecurity risks.
On the cybersecurity side of things, if you give away too much information, you could put yourself at risk of identity theft. Seemingly innocent questions about your mom, your first pet, your favorite book, and other “getting to know you” topics might actually be geared toward figuring out the security questions for accounts you use. Someone you talk to may also ask you to send them a verification code to help them “regain access” to a locked account. In reality, the pin you send gives them access to your account.
These are just two of many common scams, so be vigilant.
5. Don’t accept video calls from unknown numbers
Video calling is an increasingly common tactic used by scammers, and if you’re sharing your number around while traveling, you may be at an added risk. The trick is to video call someone and then take screenshots of their face. These pictures can be used in tandem with other scraped data to open accounts, apply for lines of credit, and otherwise steal your identity. So, take care, and don’t be too hasty to answer incoming calls. If it’s about a job or a genuine opportunity, the caller will leave a message or contact you via an alternative method.
Keep these tips in mind, give yourself a cybersecurity refresher course every few months, and you’ll be in an excellent position to avoid the latest online threats.
