My friend Mary was on vacation in Rome with her 14-year-old daughter. During their visit, they stopped to take selfies. Spotting their struggle to fit themselves and the grandeur of the backdrop in the frame, a seemingly kind stranger — a man in his 30s — offered to take their picture.
Mary punched in her PIN to unlock her iPhone and handed it over. To her absolute horror, this supposed Good Samaritan turned out to be a thief. He snatched her phone and ran away, leaving Mary and her daughter dumbstruck. Her iPhone was gone, and the thief had her PIN.
That’s far from the only way a cybercriminal or in-real-life schemer can ruin your trip. Before you board the plane or hop in the car, read these tips to stay safe on your next vacation.
1. Don’t post pics of your boarding pass or other travel docs
You’re excited, waiting for the plane. What’s the harm in posting a pic of your boarding pass? A whole lot. Boarding passes display your full legal name, ticket number and passenger name record. That six-digit code plus your last name gives anyone access to your booking information online.
The same goes for your license, passport, visa or other identification documents. Thieves keep an eye out for any detail they can use.
Keep these photos on your phone before vacation — scroll to No. 3. You’ll thank me if something goes missing!
2. Watch what you do on public Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi at the airport, hotel, or cafe is tempting (who wants to pay?), but it’s not always safe. A savvy cybercriminal can use open networks to intercept your data. Rule No 1: Never use a public connection to do online banking, access files with sensitive info or log into important accounts.
If you need to do those things, switch on a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or your phone’s hotspot.
3. Keep an air of mystery
Sharing your live location with your pals on social media is a glaring invitation: My house is empty! In a perfect world, you’d wait to post vacation pics and updates until after you get home. If you can’t wait, the least you can do is ensure all your profiles are private. Just know your posts can still spread beyond those you trust, no matter your settings.
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