Tips to Keep Your Smartphone Safe While Traveling

Tips to Keep Your Smartphone Safe While Traveling - Nowadays, smartphones are one of the mandatory items that need to be brought when we are going to travel. Because, in addition to being a means of communication, this device can also be relied on to search for navigation, order public transportation, and access internet connections at vacation spots.

However, bringing a smartphone device when traveling also has its own risk effects. For example, the risk of theft, hacking, access to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, and data breaches. Without optimal preventive measures, personal data and sensitive information of users have the potential to be easily accessed by irresponsible people, such as hackers.

And therefore, there are several simple steps that can be taken to maintain the security of smartphone devices, especially while traveling to various destinations. For those of you who often travel, here are five tips that can be applied, as I have summarized from several sources, including the following:

1. Using a VPN service

The first step that can be taken is to use a VPN or Virtual Private Network service. VPN is a technology that allows its users to access websites safely and personally.

This means that when users use a VPN on their smartphone devices, all online activities such as scrolling through social media, websites, and so on can be better protected from potential tapping by hackers. Well, when someone is traveling to a place and connects their cellphone to a public internet network, the potential for data tapping tends to be greater.

This is because internet connections in public areas such as airports and hotels are said to have weak security systems. Through this internet network, hackers can infiltrate the device with dangerous malware which can later take important information or personal data from the cellphone owner.

However, the potential for the risk of tapping can be minimized by using VPN technology on their smartphones. This is because the VPN itself will encrypt internet traffic on the device and add a layer of privacy to it.

VPN can also help hide the original IP address of its users so that it will significantly make it difficult for anyone to track or access confidential information.

2. Always activate the "Find My Device" feature

The second step is to activate the Find My Device feature on our mobile devices. Both on Android and iOS, this feature offers the same function, namely helping to track the whereabouts of a smartphone if it is lost or stolen while traveling.

Because of its level of capability, on iOS devices themselves, the Find My Device feature is claimed to be one of Apple's powerful features for years. While on Android smartphones, this feature is said to be still being developed by the company to make it even better.

And reportedly in the near future, the Find My Device service on Android smartphones will also change its name to Find My Hub. It is said that its capabilities will be further expanded, where it is no longer limited to finding cellphones, but can also track the whereabouts of other devices such as TWS (True Wireless Stereo) or Bluetooth feature trackers such as Moto Tag on Motorola phones.

The Find My Device feature on Android smartphones can be accessed via the android.com/find website on a laptop browser or by downloading the application directly on the Google Play Store platform. When a smartphone device is lost while traveling, we can use the features on Find My Device to track and temporarily "secure" our cellphone remotely.

Some features that can be used are play sound to ring a lost cellphone for 5 minutes, secure device is useful for locking the cellphone remotely, and the erase device feature allows original cellphone owners to permanently delete all device data.

3. Using a cellphone strap (lanyard)

The third step to keep your smartphone safe when traveling is to use a lanyard. By using this tool, the cellphone can be hung around the neck so that its position is always within reach of its users.

This method is said to be effective in reducing the risk of loss or theft, especially when in a public area that is crowded with visitors. This is because the smartphone that is hung around the user's neck is within the range of an area that can be continuously monitored by its owners.

By doing this, thieves are believed to have a harder time taking the device because its location is always close and can be seen directly by users. In addition, by wearing a smartphone strap, users no longer need to continuously put or take the device out of their bag or pocket when they are going to use it. Its existence easily accessed directly on the front area of the user's body, making it more practical and simple.

4. Don't scan QR codes carelessly

The fourth tip that can be done to maintain smartphone security while traveling is to always be careful when scanning QR codes. Currently, QR Code itself is one of the tools that is widely used in various public areas such as restaurants, shops, and transportation services to facilitate all types of transactions.

However, users need to be aware because the QR Code can be used by hackers to infiltrate dangerous links that can take important data on the user's smartphone device. And besides that, the unclear QR Code link also allows users to download illegal applications. Therefore, users are advised not to carelessly scan QR codes in public areas, especially from sources of unclear origin.

5. Using e-SIM

The fifth step that can be applied to maintain the security of smartphones while traveling is to use eSIM to access cellular networks in the area you are going to later. The e-SIM card is a digital version of the SIM that is installed directly in the smartphone device.

Compared to the physical SIM model, eSIM is considered safer because it cannot be removed and moved to another smartphone device manually. This is because all eSIM activation processes are carried out digitally and encrypted directly by the cellular operator.

That way, if the user's smartphone is lost or stolen while traveling, it will be more difficult for someone to access our data or use it for authentication on applications such as m-banking banking. Not only that, this eSIM feature is also claimed to be very useful for someone who often travels abroad or to areas with fairly expensive operator rates.

Because, currently many eSIM service providers offer local internet packages in their area at a cheaper price than international roaming costs. With eSIM, users also no longer need to rely on public WiFi networks so that they can minimize the potential for smartphone tapping through these networks.

These are the five tips that can be done to protect smartphone devices when traveling out of town or abroad. Stay alert wherever we are, especially when in public areas that are crowded with people. And make sure the phone is always within reach and utilize features like Find My Device and eSIM on the device. Also use a smartphone strap accessory for additional protection mode.