danieljones0094's blog
Introduction:
We have grown very dependent on our technology
devices, so it’s natural to want to take them with us when we travel. However,
traveling with phones, tablets, or laptop computers exposes them to more
threats than normal including liquid and physical damage, theft, loss, and
cyber attacks. Planes, cars, trains, and hotels are technology-hostile
environments. The following recommendations are gleaned from millions of miles
of business and personal travel as well as customer experiences.
Liquid Damage:
Don’t put a water bottle in the same backpack
or carryon as your phone, tablet, or laptop computer. Seems obvious, but we see
the consequences all the time. Water bottles are prone to leaking anyway, but
on planes, the pressure changes significantly increase the probabilities.
Don’t have drinks and your devices on airplane
seatback trays at the same time. Turbulence or someone accidentally bumping
into the seat or tray can cause liquid damage.
Liquid spills cause costly damage to devices
or outright kill them almost immediately due to short circuits or, after a time
delay, due to corrosion.
If your device was exposed to liquid and was
turned off, do not turn it on. If it was on, turn it off immediately, and don’t
turn it back on. You can wipe off the exterior, but don’t try to dry it out
with rice or a hairdryer. Do not try to test it. Bring it in as soon as
possible for a professional to try to save it.
Physical Damage:
Checked luggage is exposed to extreme handling
shocks, cold, heat, and rain. Carryon luggage falls out of overhead bins all
the time. Devices get cooked in very hot cars or used outside in bright
sunlight. When you’re travelling, before you put valuable technology anywhere,
think about its safety, and don’t expose it to unnecessary risk.
Theft:
Leaving your valuable devices unattended in
airports, cars, or hotel rooms or putting them in checked luggage is an
invitation to thieves. Keep them with you at all times, and be vigilant.
Loss:
Travelers absent-mindedly leave valuable
devices in airplanes, trains, taxis, rental cars, buses, hotels, and
restaurants. Sometimes, with significant effort and/or expense, they get them
back, and sometimes they don’t. If you’re travelling for business, your
schedule may be hectic and your surroundings unfamiliar. It’s pretty easy to
get distracted. If you’re travelling for pleasure, the whole point is to relax
in unfamiliar surroundings. It’s pretty easy to lose focus. When you’re
travelling, make a special effort to keep track of your technology.
Cyber attacks:
Using unfamiliar networks is an unfortunate
fact of life for travelers. Most public networks are not very secure. The
probability of exposure to cyber security threats is much higher when
travelling. To avoid infections and attacks, your devices should be protected
by a defense-in-depth. Check out our posts about security for more guidance.
Unless you are certain that the network that
you’re using is secure, avoid doing anything online that would expose your
sensitive information, e.g. banking or credit card transactions.
Security Scanners:
Travelers frequently question the safety of
security scanners. Security scanners use very low levels of radiation and/or
magnetic fields to detect dangerous objects and are not a significant threat.
Conclusion:
We’re all very dependent on our technology
devices, so we want them with us when we travel. Travel exposes them to more
threats. So, be careful out there. clickaway computer services is always
happy to help you keep your devices safe.
Information Source: -https://clickaway.com/how-to-travel-with-your-tech/
