Keeping your personal information safe is critical to protecting yourself from identity theft, and if you’re planning to do any traveling this holiday season, we have a few simple tips that can help keep your data secure.
- Lock your phone and laptop. Whether you’re traveling by plane, train, or automobile, you’ll probably be taking your phone or laptop with you. Be sure to enable a password to log in, and make sure it’s not one you use for other websites or devices. This way, in the worst-case scenario your electronics are lost or stolen, it will be harder for someone to view your information. That brings us to our next tip….
- Always keep your phone or laptop with you while traveling. If you’re stopping to get gas on the way to a family member’s house, getting up to go to the bathroom in an airport, or picking up some food while staying at a motel, keep any electronics with sensitive data close to you at all times. All it takes is a moment for someone to walk away with your items and your information to be in someone else’s hands.
- Check where you connect to WiFi. If you’re connecting to WiFi outside of your house or work, make sure the connection is safe and legitimate. Most hotels and airports will have information about their official networks, so be sure to find out the right one to connect to. Unsecured networks can put you at risk for your data being intercepted and viewed by a third party.
Following these simple tips can help you in keeping your personal and sensitive data safe from criminals. For more information on keeping your information safe, check out the FTC’s website. Bank of Southern California is committed to keeping your information safe and secure. Explore some of our valuable resources available within the Recommended Reading section of our website.