5 Cybersecurity Best Practices for Automation on the Go

The internet has become ingrained in our day-to-day lives that we almost can’t go through a single day without going online in one form or another. May it be checking your emails, catching up on the latest news, or sending messages to friends or colleagues, most people don’t think twice about connecting to public internet hotspots even when traveling to a foreign country. According to UrbanVPN, a free global VPN (virtual private network) provider, this shouldn’t be the case.

People should be more careful while online, especially when using a public WiFi hotspot or other untrusted internet connection. Cyberattacks are continuously growing in sophistication through the years, requiring more robust cybersecurity measures before and during travel. According to a report, the travel and tourism sector ranked third in cyberattack incidents, making travelers more susceptible to data breaches and identity theft.

Cybersecurity and Automation

The travel and tourism sector isn’t the only industry affected by cyber attacks. Companies are now realizing the value of cybersecurity and how it affects certain aspects of the business, including customer service, human resources (HR), and even search engine optimization (SEO). In a typical scenario, there can be up to a million security-related events logged daily, with more than 100,00 events labeled as critical. This makes manual review next to impossible, requiring companies to look for another solution. This is where automation comes in.

Automation reduces errors and saves significant time. It frees employees from monotonous tasks and allows them to focus on more important projects. With an automation system in place, companies need nit worry about cybersecurity tasks every minute. Below are a few ways automation can help in cybersecurity.

• It saves time. By reducing manual input and intervention, automation makes the cybersecurity process more streamlined and efficient.
• It saves money. Automation saves money by reducing the workload required from employees and mitigating the impact of data breaches in case they occur.
• It reduces risk. Automating routine security tasks reduces the likelihood of security incidents and their impact.
• It allows for flexibility. Automated cybersecurity processes make modifications and scaling of systems easier and reduce associated costs.

Similarly, a VPN frees consumers from worrying about cyberattacks when connected to networks with questionable security. It acts as an automated security measure whenever you’re out and about and need to connect to the internet.

How Can You Protect Yourself Online While Traveling?

Cybersecurity isn’t something you should take for granted. You should protect yourself at all times, especially when you’re away from home. Below are a few best practices that can help you protect yourself from cyberattacks.

• Avoid entering sensitive information when using public WiFi hotspots. When traveling, there are times that you may be waiting in the airport, lounging at a café, or just enjoying some downtime. While connecting to public WiFi hotspots during these times isn’t necessarily harmful, resist the temptation to enter sensitive information because public internet hotspots aren’t that secure and won’t be able to protect any sensitive and personal data you enter. Connecting compromised networks makes you easy pref to man-in-the-middle attacks where hackers intercept your data as it’s transmitted over the network. Avoid this risk by using a more secure internet connection like your data plan or a hotel WiFi network.
• Change your passwords before traveling. Strong passwords are your best defense against data breaches and unauthorized account access, and it’s a common method of security for most software. However, even a complex password loses its strength if you use a single password for all your accounts. Having one password for everything puts all your accounts at risk because most hackers will attempt to use a password on several websites or accounts to test for access. While tedious, resetting your passwords before traveling and using multiple complex ones ensures that you have “renewed security” before you connect to the internet in a foreign country or unfamiliar location,
• Disable automatic connections. Before traveling, it’s best to disable your device from automatically connecting to an available WiFi network. This setting is typically disabled on most devices, but it’s a good practice to check beforehand so it wont’ connect to a network without you knowing. Leaving this setting on can make you prone to evil twin attacks, where hackers create a clone of a public WiFi hotspot to which your device may connect inadvertently. This hotspot clone can be used to steal your personal data and gin unauthorized access to your device.
• Use a local SIM card. If you’re traveling for a significantly longer period, it may be best to buy a local SIM card for your phone so you can also have access to mobile data. Using a mobile data connection is more secure than public WiFi networks because data is encrypted by the mobile network. As a tourist, you may have access to low-cost monthly or weekly plans that give you allowances for calls, SMS, and data. If your phone is locked to your home network or country, you can opt for a free virtual number, which you can use during the course of your travel.
• Download a VPN app. VPN apps like UrbanVPN provide an added layer of security to users and allow access to region-specific and other restricted content wherever you are. Fortunately, these features are also available on your smartphone and other mobile devices. It’s a reliable and convenient way to protect yourself from cyberattacks and keep your online activities private. When you use a VPN, all internet traffic transmitted from and received by your device is encrypted and goes through a dedicated VPN server. A VPN is a vital tool when traveling because it keeps you safe when connected to public WiFi hotspots.

Online Self-defense

Cybersecurity is a concept that’s often overlooked by many because they don’t fully comprehend the impact of a data breach or hacked account. While strong passwords may seem sufficient, your accounts and devices may still be susceptible to cyberattacks, especially if you often connect to public WiFi hotspots or travel frequently. Using a VPN is a form of “online self-defense” that keeps your data safe and your online activities private through encryption and the use of a dedicated private VPN server. Take the time to learn how to leverage a VPN’s features for your online safety and remember the cybersecurity best practices mentioned above to keep yourself away from cybercriminals.