Asian countries may share the same continent, but they’re all culturally diverse with unique people, places, and customs. South Korea is no different, and Seoul is arguably the biggest hub for South Korean culture. This vibrant city has remnants of ancient civilization in-between advanced modern amenities.
There are plenty of reasons to visit the bustling neon light-filled streets of Seoul at any time of the year. However, there’s just one more thing to consider before leaving:
Most people make sure to keep their homes and pets safe when going away for any period of time. But these days it’s just as important to protect those intangible things that most people tend to forget. It’s all that valuable information everyone takes with them on their phones, laptops, and other devices.
The tourism industry is seeing its fair share of attacks from cybercriminals. There were a mind-boggling 3.9 billion malicious login attempts on airline and travel sites during the 2017/18 period. Those staying in hotels are also seeing an increase in malware and hacking attempts from hotels’ WiFi connections.
So anyone who’s planning on visiting Seoul, whether for business or pleasure, needs to keep that in mind. Don’t let cybercriminals ruin a great vacation or a meticulously planned work trip. Go through the latest cybersecurity travel tips below and make sure it’s a safe journey there and back again.
7 Ways to Stay Digitally Safe While Traveling
Make Sure Everything is Backed Up
Make it harder for hackers to get their hands on any data even if they get access to a device. Back up important information to a secure cloud service and only access it from there when necessary. Delete that data on the device itself before leaving and turn off the syncing feature.
Update Apps and Software Across All Devices
It’s vital that any apps or software on a laptop or mobile device are updated before leaving. Software updates contain necessary security patches that fix any known vulnerabilities. This also goes for any operating system and antivirus software too. They’re without a doubt the most important updates to download.
Get a South Korea VPN That Works
The VPN service doesn’t necessarily have to be in South Korea. It just has to be a VPN that will work in that country, because not all of them work everywhere. That and the provider’s logging policies are two things to look out for when getting a VPN.
Virtual private networks can help protect travelers against attack thanks to their ability to encrypt data. They protect any data that is sent from a device, even if the network isn’t secure. Making this the perfect solution for those who want to connect to infamously unsafe WiFi hotspots. Like those in airports, coffee shops, and hotels.
Disable Auto-Connect
Many phones and laptops have an auto-connect feature that’s automatically turned on. While it’s nice to have a mobile phone automatically connect at home, it’s dangerous while traveling. Besides the risks associated with unsecured public WiFi, there’s also the danger of hackers creating their own fake WiFi hotspots. Make sure this feature is turned off before leaving the house.
Don’t Announce Any Details About the Trip
Hackers work smart, and it’s easier to target someone when their location is public knowledge. Yes, it’s exciting to share vacation details with others on social media. But it’s safer to save all those photos and information for after the trip when cybercriminals can’t do anything with that information anymore. Never use location names or tags when posting anything on social media during a vacation.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
It’s hard to keep track of every online account while traveling, especially when there’s bad reception. Enabling two-factor authentication will add an extra measure of security by prohibiting any new login attempts. Unless the person answers a security question or types in a pin that’s sent to the owner, that is.
Not all online accounts support two-factor authentication, but it’s essential to enable it on those that do. This is especially important for email services as they can be used to change passwords for other accounts.
Turn Bluetooth Off
There’s really no good reason to keep Bluetooth connections on after getting out of the car at the airport. Bluetooth doesn’t serve a purpose while traveling, but it is an easy way in for cybercriminals. Stick to switching the Bluetooth connection off when not using it.
In Conclusion
Follow these steps to minimize the risks associated with travel-related cyberthreats before leaving for Seoul. That said, don’t agonize over the possibility of getting hacked. The stress of a possible cyber attack shouldn’t ruin your trip. So just stick to the rules.