Cybersecurity for the paranoid business traveller
2 days ago
- Discard USB sticks given as gifts to avoid malware, data exfiltration, or illegal content.
- Avoid public USB charging ports; use your own charger or portable battery to prevent data theft.
- Uninstall unnecessary apps from your phone before travel to reduce the attack surface.
- Use VPN cautiously; it may be illegal or draw attention in some countries, and browse securely.
- Use a password manager with a sub-account for the trip and avoid SMS for multi-factor authentication.
- Be wary of honey traps intended for blackmail; avoid risky personal interactions.
- Use a cheap laptop (e.g., Chromebook) for travel and discard it upon return to protect data.
- Consider a burner phone or feature phone to minimize risk; avoid biometric locks and use a strong PIN.
- Keep sensitive data on a server and download only at destination to avoid customs scrutiny.
- Reduce social media exposure by changing passwords to ones you don't remember and leave at home.
- Use your phone's hotspot instead of hotel Wi-Fi to avoid insecure networks.