Vish Nandlall gives tips for keeping your personal data safe during travel.

1. Keeping your data safe
during travel
Vish Nandlall

2. Keep track of
important files
Before your next trip, take quick
inventory of your most important
and/or personal files that might
become vital in the event of a data
breach. These files may include your
passport, social security number,
driver’s license, and credit card
information.
If anything, take pictures of certain
documents to ensure you at least
have a pseudo-copy of them.

3. Invest in a thumb
drive
Portable operating systems and
storage devices are sure to be
your friend during long trips.
Use these devices to increase
your personal security by taking
your data on the go, but remember
that this method is far from
infallible and is not necessarily a
catch-all method for completely
securing your files.

4. Utilize VPNs
As you travel, you will likely use
wifi hotspots, and some of these
connections may not be secure.
In times like these, it may be
wise to use virtual private
networks (VPNs) to “encrypt
your browsing and Internet
activity and obscure your IP so
they stay private.” Just be sure
to logout once you are finished.

5. Purchase a
"burner" phone
A “burner” phone is a phone
taken on trips lieu of your
main phone.
This method’s intent is fairly
straightforward: it will allow
you to access the basics in
terms of the internet and other
forms of communication while
keeping your most important
data files safe in a separate
location.