Travel for business or pleasure and your technology goes with you unless you’re planning to go somewhere for a complete no-tech digital detox. IT support virtually travels with business travelers, but casual consumers are on their own. Most of us won’t even walk to the end of the block without our smartphones, so when you go on a trip, not having your technology there when you need it can ruin your day, if not your entire trip.
The wise move is to perform a few tech-checks before you go. Doing so means you can travel smarter and more securely. Use our handy tech travel checklist below. It can save you from having to deal with lost devices, missing chargers, or a data breach.
- Download and Check Necessary Apps
If you show up at your airport departure gate and find it empty, the hairs on the back of your neck should stand up. You ask at the desk and find out your gate had changed, but you didn’t know because you didn’t download the airline app. Now you’re hoping you’re not too late as you make a mad dash to the other end of the concourse.
When you finally get to proper gate and it’s still full as people are boarding the flight, perhaps you wonder how they knew and you didn’t. Most likely, they downloaded the app for the airline and received a notification.
Think ahead and download any apps you may need before you leave for a trip – for airlines, hotels, planned activities, and even restaurants you’ve made reservations at. It’s better to install them at home on your own Wi-Fi. If you wait until you’re at the airport, reception may be an issue.
Some of the apps you may want to grab or update before your trip are:
Airline app
Train app
Hotel app
Theme Park app
Camping ground app
Weather app
City tourism app
- Check All Adapters and Cords
People forget their chargers and adapters in airports, restaurants, cabs/Ubers, and train stations around the world. Bring a backup charger for your laptop, tablet, or phone. Otherwise, you may find yourself paying a premium for a new charger in a gift shop. Your device could also go black if you lose its charger and can’t quickly get a new one.
- Pack Power Backups
It's very wise that you pack at least one, preferably several, fully charged Portable Power Banks or ‘Power Sticks’ for your devices. If you can’t charge your device normally, due to anything from a lost cable or charger – or even a power outage, you can just pop it in and fill your device with juice. Remember to recharge it for next time.
This will also help you avoid potential ‘juice-jacking’ ports. These are fake or compromised public USB charging ports. Hackers use them to steal your data when you plug in.
- Check Your Smartphone Plan
If you’re traveling internationally, you need to check your mobile plan. If you don’t have the ability to call internationally, then you may not be able to text or call home.
A lot of carriers, like T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon include Canada and Mexico in their U.S. plans, but they can add international capability when you need it. Make sure you ask about pricing and what extra charges may apply. It can get expensive if you’re on long calls or using mobile data.
An alternative is to set up a VoIP app you can use with your office, friends, or family while you’re traveling. These enable both calls and SMS as long as you have an internet connection.
- Add or Check a VPN
We at ITFIRM.COM do NOT like or recommend using free Wi-Fi. Doing so on the road is no less dangerous than what you have on your home turf. You don’t know who else is using that Wi-Fi. A hacker lurking on the connection can easily steal your data if you’re not protected.
Use either your mobile carrier connection or a VPN (Virtual Private Network). VPN plans are inexpensive and will keep your data encrypted and your identity hidden when you’re on public Wi-Fi.
- Check Your Data/OS Backups
It’s not uncommon for mishaps and thefts to occur when traveling. You may be halfway to Hawaii when you realize you left your phone somewhere. A very real danger is that your luggage might be lost or on a flight somewhere else. Devices are often stolen in crowded areas like airports and train stations.
10% of all laptop thefts happen in airports.
Even if you have to buy a new device, make sure you don’t lose all your data as well! Back up the data on your devices to the cloud or local storage before you travel. This ensures that you won’t lose the valuable information on your device. You also won't need to think twice about enacting a remote ‘wipe my device’ command if necessary.
- Check the Cybersecurity on Your Devices
This should be done regularly whether you’re traveling or not: Make sure your devices are updated and as secure as possible before you hit the road. Our minds are occupied by other things when we’re traveling, so, you may not think to check your antivirus or avoid suspicious phishing links.
Enact the following protections on your devices before you go:
Antivirus/anti-malware
DNS filtering
Screen lock with passcode
Sharing features turned OFF
VPN application
Find-My-Device feature turned ON
If there is an internal IT Services department or an outsourced Managed IT Services company where you work, call the IT HelpDesk, and ask them to look over your devices (remove questionable photos!).
- Check your Double-Checks
This might as well be a memo from ‘The Department of Redundancy Department’, but what we mean is to use the same methodology for your travel-tech that you use for everything else about traveling. When the family is going somewhere, moms and dads ask each other and the kids if they packed important items – anything from an allergy inhaler to a swimsuit. Travelers should check with their companions that they have all their devices and have installed protections like the ones listed above.
If you’re traveling alone, have a friend or family member check up by text. Did you grab your charger? Is your VPN turned on? Did you back up your data at home?
Those little reminders can go a long way toward avoiding digital travel nightmares.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a power bank hold?
Just like our smartphone batteries power banks’ capacity typically measures in mAh (Milliamp Hours). Power banks usually are offered with capacities ranging from 4000 mAh to 40000 mAh. The bigger the number, the larger the capacity. A power bank with a 10000 mAh battery has a capacity of about 6000-7000 mAh. The iPhone 12 mini has a 2227 mAh battery.
How can I check security on my phone?
On most Android and iPhones Cybersecurity patches and updates happen automatically. To check:
On Android devices, go to Settings > Security > Google Security Checkup.
On iPhones, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check.
How do I get antivirus on my phone?
It’s simple: Just open the Play Store app, tap your icon or avatar at the top right and activate ‘Play Protect’. Then install anti-malware software. An antivirus app is the best way to automatically clean your phone of viruses and malware, plus it will detect malicious strains to prevent future infections.
Do I actually need a VPN?
YES - for home, office, or mobile devices. A VPN is a necessary and valued tool in 2024. It completely secures your private and personal information and prevents third parties from gaining access to your data, as they can exploit and use this information against you. For such reasons, it's recommended to keep your VPN on for most if not all of the time.
How secure is your network?
As a longstanding, reputable member of the Charlotte IT Support community, ITFIRM.COM offers a FREE, no-risk network and Cybersecurity assessment. We perform a non-intrusive scan that allows us to deliver a comprehensive report of the state of your system and its vulnerabilities that is yours to keep. There are no strings attached, and you are under no obligation ever to use our Managed IT services.
The two best defenses are next-generation Cybersecurity to protect your data from theft, and a top-notch Managed Services Provider to ensure continued reliability and defenses against newly emerging threats.
We put our 100% Money Back Guarantee in writing, so there is no risk in trying us out. Because we do not require a ‘hard’ contract, our clients can fire us at any time with 30 days’ notice. We have to be good.
Among the Managed IT services we provide:
IT HelpDesk Service
Onsite IT Support
Cybersecurity
Cloud migration and management
Email migration services
Backup and disaster recovery
VoIP phone systems
IT disposition and recycling
Office moves
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