How to Protect Your Phone While Traveling

Worried about keeping your phone safe abroad? Learn how to protect your phone while traveling with practical tips to keep your device secure.

If you could take only one item while traveling, what would it be? Most likely, your phone. Even if you lose most of your essential items, having your phone at the very least gives you the ability to contact help in emergencies and quickly bounce back.

Given how important this one device is, you would think everyone keeps their phone security in mind while traveling. Sadly, a lot of travelers overlook security and only realize its importance once their phone gets damaged, stolen, or lost. This article will lay out the foundation of phone security, making sure nothing bad happens to your most treasured device.

Understanding the Risks

Regardless of how safe your destination may seem, it’s never a bad idea to be aware of potential phone-related threats.

One of the most common and, to this day, prominent risks related to phones is physical theft. In touristy areas or popular destinations, like Paris or Barcelona, it’s pretty common for people to get pickpocketed even during daylight. Such threats are most likely to happen in crowded markets, public transportation, and popular sightseeing attractions.

Juice jacking has emerged as another prominent concern while traveling. It’s a security threat where compromised public charging stations install malware on your device when plugged in. So, even the simple act of leaving your device unattended at a café table or hotel room can result in threats like theft or unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Aside from the usual theft and outright misplacement, connecting to an unsecured network is a risk that most people don’t consider serious – at least not until they start seeing shady activities on their online accounts.

From a day-to-day perspective, it’s fair to assume that you’re not going to get hacked as soon as you connect to the airport Wi-Fi. After all, malicious individuals aren’t lurking everywhere. But remember, the act of securing your device isn’t just about your day-to-day habits. It’s mostly about the off-chance that something bad happens when you least expect it.

Digital Security Measures

Now that you understand the consequences of not taking phone security seriously, it’s time to discuss actionable steps to improve it.

The Use of Strong Passwords

Creating strong, unique passwords for each app on your phone is your first line of defense against digital threats. Avoid using personally identifiable information in your passwords – your pet’s name, birthday, or address makes you vulnerable. Instead, combine random words with numbers and special characters, like “Balloon7%Truck!Copp3r”, to create passwords that are difficult to crack but easier for you to remember than completely random strings of characters.

If you don’t want to deal with thinking of unique passwords for each of your accounts, check out Android or iOS password managers. These tools help generate and store secure passwords without the need to think of them on your own.

Having unique passwords for each of your accounts is a great way to ensure that even if one password gets leaked or cracked by hackers, your other accounts won’t be susceptible to being compromised, too.

The Use of Two-Factor Authentication

Setting strong passwords is a good start to protecting your phone while traveling, but you shouldn’t forget about two-factor authentication (2FA). Activate 2FA when you are on the road, and make sure that even if hackers steal your passwords, they won’t be able to access your accounts without entering the 2FA first.

The Use of VPNs

We’ve already touched on the risk that comes with connecting to unsecured networks, and this is where Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) become a lifesaver. By turning on a VPN for your phone, you can access the internet even via public Wi-Fi and rest easy knowing that your data is encrypted and won’t be intercepted. That’s one thing to take off your mind during your travels.

Also, if you’re in a country where your favorite shows or services are blocked due to regional restrictions, a VPN can help you bypass these limitations and enjoy content just like you would at home.

Physical Protection Methods

Of course, we can’t talk about keeping your phone safe without mentioning physical security. Aside from always remembering where your phone is, there are more ways to ensure it never gets stolen or misplaced. Here are some of the other tips you can take into account:

Invest in Anti-Theft Bags

A secure bag is an essential investment for people concerned about misplacing their devices, and we’re not talking about just sturdy bags. An anti-theft bag comes with a myriad of features designed to ensure maximum item protection.

For example, some bags are lined with RFID-blocking materials to prevent your cards from getting scanned. They may also contain hidden compartments, be made of slash-resistant fabric, include lockable zippers, or feature steel-reinforced straps that cannot be easily cut by thieves targeting shoulder bags.

Practice Device Safety Habits

A cornerstone of physical item security is safety habits. For one, never place your phone in your back pocket or any pocket where it easily peeks out. That’s an invitation for theft right there. Similarly, be very careful when using your phone in crowded public areas, ensuring your usage is discreet.

Always checking your items is also a solid habit. If you’re wondering how often you should do that, we recommend upon arriving and before leaving any new location. Lastly, nothing beats being more alert and vigilant when it comes to physical security habits. Yes, even when you’re captivated by the great view of the many tourist attractions, get a tight grip on the phone.

More Useful Apps and Tools for Phone Security

You can never be too protected when it comes to your personal device. If you firmly believe in the power of layered security, here are more tools you should consider.

Get a Good Tracking Application

Even if your phone has built-in tracking functions, installing a tracking app may offer additional functions like family location sharing if you’re not traveling alone. Cross-device compatibility is also a good feature if you are using devices with different operating systems.

Back Your Data Up in the Cloud

Most phones nowadays will remind you about the specific cloud service available for use. Many users skip this part because it seems tedious to figure out. However, spending a few minutes to configure your cloud settings properly can save you lots of sorrow and headaches if you lose your phone and memories.

Get those photos and other files in the cloud, so if you have to get a new phone, you can still recover them.

Get More Encryption Tools

Aside from VPNs and your secure messaging apps, you also have the option to install more encryption tools. For example, an alternative email service focused on encryption or a more secure browser. There’s no shame in having all your most used apps be security-focused, even if others think you might be going overboard.

Consider Apps That Detect Unsafe Networks

If you are already using a VPN – depending on your provider – they likely have this functionality already. Still, it’s always recommended to use a dedicated application to scan your networks and assess the security of your connection to ensure you’re not entering an infected site.

But why use a dedicated app for this when you can just use a VPN? Aside from the principle of having layered protection, you get the opportunity to assess a network’s safety before connecting and learn why exactly a network is deemed unsafe.

Bonus Tips for Staying Safe

While it’s tempting to post real-time updates of your travels on social media, this can be an opportunity for criminals to stalk you. It’s best to wait until you are back in your hotel before posting photos or videos on social media, or at least keep your posts visible to friends only. If you think this concern is far-fetched, check out the many previous cases in which live streamers have had unpleasant encounters with stalkers during travels.

In addition, double-check the permissions of your phone apps to see if anything is tracking your location. If it’s an app that has no reason to know your location, disable these permissions.

If you don’t want to rely on public networks for the internet while navigating your destination, you can download offline maps and guides. The best part of this is that you won’t be missing out on any essential data. Many mapping apps allow you to download entire city maps for offline use with complete street names, landmarks, and even public transportation routes.

Protect Your Phone, Enjoy the Journey

Remember, paying attention to your phone usually isn’t enough when traveling. It’s better to have multiple security measures in place and an established course of action you’ll take if it actually gets stolen or lost. And even if it’s not physically stolen, you are now aware of other ways your phone can be compromised.

So, when you embark on your next adventure, follow our advice on phone safety – you’ll save yourself from that dreaded moment of patting your pockets only to realize your phone has vanished.