Travelers should harden devices and accounts before departure with strong unique passwords, MFA (preferably hardware tokens), and travel‑only credentials or devices. Use verified VPNs with kill switches on public Wi‑Fi, minimize installed apps, clear caches, and back up validated images offline. Avoid public USB charging, use data blockers or personal chargers, and enable device recovery tools. Assume border inspections, document incidents, and revoke exposed credentials promptly. Continue for detailed steps, tools, and policy guidance.
Key Takeaways
- Use a travel‑only device or clean user profile, remove sensitive data, and restore from verified pre‑travel backups if compromised.
- Enable strong passwords, hardware/OTP multi‑factor authentication, and rotate credentials before and after travel.
- Always connect through a vetted no‑logs VPN with a kill switch and avoid sensitive transactions on public Wi‑Fi.
- Disable biometrics before border crossings, use passcodes, assume inspections, and minimize data crossing borders.
- Avoid public USB charging, use personal chargers or data blockers, and limit device pairing to prevent lateral network attacks.
Before You Go: Preparing Your Devices and Accounts
Before departure, travelers should inventory and harden devices and accounts to minimize exposure: enforce strong, unique passwords (≥8 characters with mixed case, numbers, symbols), enable multi-factor authentication, and create travel-only credentials where possible; install and update antivirus, anti-spyware, OS patches, personal firewalls, and secure browser settings; encrypt sensitive data while confirming destination encryption laws; disable unnecessary ports and file/printer sharing; remove nonessential apps and data, clear browser caches and saved credentials, and avoid emailing or storing sensitive information on portable media. The guide emphasizes password rotation, MFA uptake, and travel-dedicated devices. Device inventory metrics, SIM strategies, and legal checks are recommended. Practical steps include battery management plans, minimal app inventories, and validated paper backups for critical documents. Community-minded language invites shared best practices and routine audits. Travelers should also register their trip with institutional travel and safety services for support and alerts, especially when visiting higher-risk countries travel registry. Institutions should be consulted for export control guidance and destination-specific encryption rules prior to travel to ensure compliance with export controls. Travelers should also consider carrying a low-cost, travel-only device to reduce risk when accessing sensitive systems and networks, as this is a widely recommended best practice.
Safe Connections: Using VPNs and Secure Wi‑Fi Practices
When connecting on the road, travelers should prioritize encrypted tunnels and verified Wi‑Fi to reduce interception risk.
The guidance emphasizes VPN benefits: encryption to block eavesdropping, IP masking for privacy, and secure access to geo‑restricted resources.
Data shows 43% prioritize security; only 4% explicitly use VPNs for travel, signaling adoption gaps. 1.5 billion people now use VPNs worldwide, highlighting broad but uneven adoption.
Practical recommendations: enable VPN before joining public Wi‑Fi, confirm hotspot legitimacy with staff, choose audited no‑logs providers, and use features like split tunnel to balance performance and routing.
Activate a kill switch to prevent leaks if the VPN drops.
Limit sensitive transactions on public networks and pair VPNs with updated antivirus.
This user-centric, data-driven approach fosters a communal standard for safer connections.
To further protect data while traveling, consider selecting a VPN with AES‑256 encryption.
Travelers should also be aware that public Wi‑Fi networks at airports and cafes frequently expose devices to eavesdropping.
Protecting Your Credentials: Passwords, MFA, and Account Hygiene
Encrypted connections reduce interception risk, but credential protection remains the primary line of defense for traveler accounts. Travelers are advised to set strong passwords on all devices, back up important data pre-travel, and remove confidential data before border crossings. Biometric authentication should be disabled prior to border entry; PINs and passcodes provide controllable device locks. Use credential vaults and hardware or offline tokens for MFA to minimize exposure to phishing and spoofing; 20% of travelers face cybercrime targeting credentials abroad. Prior to travel, clear browser cache and cookies, tighten app privacy and profile visibility, and disable unnecessary location tracking. On return, discontinue devices used abroad, reformat drives, reinstall trusted images, and involve IT for secure recovery and account hygiene. Travel increases exposure to cross-border cyber-risk, and approximately 20% of travelers experience cyber-crime when abroad. Border agents can inspect devices without a warrant, so travelers should assume border searches may include data copying or forensic review. Make sure to enable automatic updates before departure to ensure devices have the latest security patches.
Handling Untrusted Infrastructure: Public Charging, Hotel Smart Devices, and USB Risks
Mitigating risks from untrusted infrastructure requires travelers to treat public charging stations, hotel smart devices, and USB connections as potential attack vectors: FBI alerts and “juice jacking” incidents show malware can be delivered via USB ports to harvest credentials and payment data, while recent breaches and discovered zero-days in EV charging protocols highlight compromises that can propagate into broader networks. Travelers should adopt charging etiquette: prefer personal wall chargers, portable power banks, or USB data blockers to prevent data exchange. Maintain cable hygiene by using known, intact cables and avoiding public USB leads. Be mindful that compromised EV and hotel devices have extracted credentials and card data and can pivot into networks; use segmented mobile hotspots and minimize device pairing to reduce lateral risk while traveling. Public charging stations commonly found in airports, hotels, and shopping centers are frequent targets for these schemes, so treat them with extra caution and awareness of public charging station risks.
Spotting and Avoiding Phishing, Scam Messages, and Malicious Ads
Because threat actors now deploy AI-crafted emails, deepfakes, and multi-stage social engineering across travel channels, travelers and frontline staff must prioritize rapid identification of phishing, smishing, vishing, and malicious ads to limit financial and credential losses.
Data shows 1,517 travel scams and $2.6M losses (Apr 2024–Apr 2025), 1M+ phishing attacks in Q1 2025, and 82.6% of phishing using AI-generated content.
Best practices include verifying senders, hovering links, long-pressing mobile URLs, and refusing to share OTPs.
Watch for unnatural lip movement or audio artifacts indicative of Deepfake calls and voice cloning.
Train teams—well-trained staff reduce breach cost markedly—and encourage community reporting of suspicious airline, agent, and ad-based scams.
Emphasize belonging: share learnings, support peers, and adopt defensive habits against AI scams.
Securing Travel Apps, Reservations, and Loyalty Programs
Having reduced exposure to phishing and AI-driven social engineering, travelers and staff must next secure the digital tools that hold reservations, payments, and loyalty balances.
The guidance emphasizes app provenance: verify developer identity, reviews, and update cadence before installing.
Limit devices and apps to reduce attack surface; enable automatic OS and app updates to patch vulnerabilities.
Implement biometric locks and strong passcodes; apply multi-factor authentication and prudent credential delegation to minimize shared-password risks.
Use VPNs on public Wi‑Fi, confirm apps use robust encryption for payments, and enable “Find My Device” for recovery.
Back up itineraries to secure cloud storage, clear browser history, and remove unnecessary apps.
Choose apps with high completion rates, fast load times, offline access, and clear data protection compliance.
What to Do If Your Device or Data Is Compromised Abroad
If a device or data is suspected compromised abroad, responders should immediately isolate the device, assume exposure of credentials and sensitive information, and notify the home organization and local U.S. embassy or consulate.
Response steps prioritize device quarantine, network removal, and documentation.
Report theft or forced access to IT, legal, compliance, local embassy and home organization; log timeline and affected assets for incident responders.
Remediation follows data-driven protocols: reformat and reinstall from trusted pre-travel images or dispose of device if risk is high; replace USB media; retain battery/SIM separately.
Access controls require immediate password changes, credential revocation, cache and cookie clearing, and monitored account activity.
Post-incident actions include security assessment, enhanced monitoring, and verified restoration from pre-travel backups to rebuild trust.
Organizational Policies and Training for Business Travelers
After containment and remediation steps for compromised devices are executed, organizational policies and training must codify preventive measures and traveler responsibilities to minimize recurrence.
The policy scope should explicitly include employees, contractors, short and long domestic and international trips, insurance, emergency contacts, and registration with tracking providers.
Data-driven requirements mandate pre-trip risk assessments, visa and vaccination verification, and defined travel approval workflows.
Training combines digital-security protocols (VPN guidance, device minimization, Wi‑Fi cautions) with behavioral guidelines and cultural training to reduce social-engineering risks at events.
Communication protocols require regular check-ins, incident reporting to a 24/7 hotline, and escalation paths.
Enforcement metrics and compliance monitoring quantify training completion, travel registrations, and incident response times to reduce liability and improve duty of care.
References
- https://levelblue.com/blogs/security-essentials/securing-your-digital-footprint-while-traveling-in-2025
- https://allaboutcookies.org/international-travelers-internet-safety-survey
- https://riskline.com/in-the-news-travel-safely-in-uncertain-times-the-biggest-travel-risks-in-2025/
- https://www.emergencyassistanceplus.com/resources/travel-safety-trends/
- https://www.s7risk.com/emerging-risks-for-business-travelers-in-2025/
- https://www.travelers.com/resources/risk-index/2025-cyber-top-business-risk
- https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/ATA-2025-Unclassified-Report.pdf
- https://www.dni.gov/index.php/ncsc-how-we-work/ncsc-know-the-risk-raise-your-shield/ncsc-travel-tips
- https://research.msu.edu/security/travel/practices
- https://security.berkeley.edu/education-awareness/security-tips-travel-0
