Cybersecurity Tip of The Day #14

Share your photos and updates with friends and family after your trip. Otherwise, you are advertising to the world that your house is vacant.

According to several studies, 78% of burglars use social media to plan their next break in. We all want to share our amazing trip with friends and family, but the data shows that you're better off waiting until you get back to do so publicly. In addition to keeping this information private while you are away, take a look at several additional recommendations you should consider while away:

• Turn off your phone's GPS settings, or at a minimum, disable location sharing within your social media applications

• Only connect to public Wi-Fi or hotspots which require a password given to you by the establishment. If you must connect to open, public Wi-Fi, never make sensitive or confidential transactions.

• Be wary of public USB charging stations. Bring your own chargers and use them while in the airport or your hotel.

• Enable passcode features on all mobile devices to ensure thieves are locked out in the event devices are stolen or misplaced.

• Scrutinize the ATM's you use for suspicious cameras or skimming devices. Shake the card reader portion of the ATM and check for loose wiring or small holes that could be cameras.

Quite simply, when you leave your home for any extended period of time, do not tell the Internet!

#vacation #privacy #cybersecurity #socialmedia