Improving Your Travel Security and Privacy - 2019

Let's face it, travel can be exciting but it's easy to get lost in the moment. That said, a little attention to security and privacy can save your trip from unnecessary pain and anxiety.  Based on years of business and personal travel, I thought I'd share some of my basic principles for safe travel.

• When connecting to public WiFi networks, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). You never know if some hacker is snooping around an insecure WiFi connection looking for private information. Using a VPN during your WiFi session will help prevent your data from being stolen. I use VyperVpn, about $80 for an annual subscription.
• On your luggage tag, indicate only your name, email address and phone number on the luggage tag. Again, no need to publicly share your residential address if you provide other ways to reach you.
• Place your carry-on luggage in an overhead bin near your seat. If this isn't possible, use a lock or zip tie to secure the carry-on luggage zippers.
• If you're traveling with black-colored luggage, similar to many other bags, use a colorful luggage tag or luggage strap to help distinguish your bag from others.
• Only carry a minimum number of credit cards and amount of cash at any time. When I travel with my wife, I carry one brand of credit card and my wife carries a different credit card. We both carry our personal ATM cards as we've had instances where one ATM card wasn't accepted by a foreign bank machine.
• Maintain a list of credit/debit card contact numbers on your phone and/or online addressbook. If you suffer a credit card loss, having contact information of the card issuer at hand will speed up cancelling the account and, possibly expedite the transmittal of a replacement card. There are a number of smartphone apps that will permit you to securely encrypt both contact numbers and credit/debit card information.
• Keeping your wallet in your front pants pocket will not prevent a skilled pick pocket from the job at hand. Use a money belt or clothes with pockets that have multiple closures that require a pick pocket to defeat several pocket closures to reach your wallet. Having a front pocket with an additional zipper closure helped to keep my wallet safe in Rome. Check out ClothingArts for pick-pocket proof clothing.
• When walking in an area that could expose you to theft, keep your day pack or purse in front of you. If using a fanny pack, keep the pack in your front. A small "S" carabiner can also be used to secure zipper pulls, 
• When at a restaurant, keep your day pack and/or purse within eye sight. Do not put either on the back of a chair or on the floor. We had personal experience with day pack infiltration from the back of a chair. A colleague had a laptop stolen from a briefcase placed on the floor near his restaurant table. A moment of inattention can be an opening for a thief.
• Consider the possibility that a hotel room safe may not really be secure. More than one person at the hotel can likely open a room safe - as guests do forget safe passcodes. If you must leave valuables in an unattended room, it 'might' be safer to lock your valuables your luggage. I've also heard some travelers place spare cash and credit cards in a location, or device, they believe unlikely to he checked in an unattended room. Such locations DO NOT include under a mattress.
• When temporarily leaving your room, leave the TV on low and place the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door.
• Don't keep a hotel key card in the paper sleeve that indicates your room number.
• If you must travel with a laptop computer, consider removing as much personal and sensitive 
  information as possible from the computer before you travel. It is best to be prepared for a computer theft. You can also encrypt your computer hard disk as an additional security measure but first check with the US State Department about encryption import and export laws. 
• Review any travel insurance policies before you travel. Keep a copy of the policy easily accessible during your trip.
• For US residents traveling internationally, consider enrolling into the State Department Safe Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Once enrolled, you will receive email updates from regional Embassy offices and the Embassy will have contact information for you.

Protecting your residence while you travel

• Post travel updates and photos on your social media pages AFTER you return home. No need to broadcast no one is home while you travel.
• Use of video cameras with motion detection near the front and rear doors and interior of your residence. The cameras could alert you to unusual activity at your house when you travel. Possible interior cameras include:
• Arlo Q
• Logitech Circle 2
• RING Stick-up Camera
• Before you travel, confirm that all windows and doors can be locked/secured. Repair any torn window and door screens before you travel so that a break-in is more apparent. 
• Before you travel, trim overgrown plantings that could hide window and door tampering. 
• Consider placing your residence interior and exterior lights on timers. An interior radio and other sound sources may also be placed on timers to indicate the presence of a homeowner to a potential thief.
• Consider using a water leak detection system for your residence. Water leaks in unattended homes result in tremendous repair and recovery costs.
• Speaking of water, confirm that your landscaping will watered and trimmed. This is especially useful if you will be traveling for a longer period.
• Consider using an alarm system that will report an attempted residential break-in to you or a centrally monitored location.
• Place a lock on your side gates to create one more obstacle to yard entry.
• Notify trusted neighbors of your absence so that they can identify suspicious activity while you're gone. Ask your neighbors to remove fliers left at your front door by vendors and contractors. Check with your local police department to see if it will perform a residential drive-by security review during your travel-related absence. 
• Stop your newspaper service - if you still have one these days - as well as have the Post Office hold your mail. Alternatively, have a trusted neighbor pick up your mail and papers.

While none of these measures will ensure a safe trip, each will reduce your risk level while you are out exploring the world.