Before we jump into the nitty-gritty of how not to use your smartphone (or tablet), it’s probably a good idea to cover some travel-related do’s and don’ts as I’m guessing that a fair amount of you will soon be about to embark on a vacation or trip somewhere, or are even reading this book while already sitting on a coach, train, or plane.
When getting ready to travel, your smartphone is generally the last thing you think about. I mean, it’s just a smartphone – so as long as you have the charger packed you’re all set, right?
Well, not quite. Just a little preparation before you jet off can save you an awful lot of hassle down the line, and so it’s worth bearing some of these tips in mind before you hit the road:
Ensure that you have enabled a PIN or password. This is a no-brainer. Make sure that some type of security code has to be entered in order to gain access to your device. This is your first line of defence if someone gets hold of your smartphone or tablet but one that many people don’t bother to implement.
Make the PIN/Password kick in sooner. Most smartphones enable you to increase or decrease the period of inactivity before a passcode is required to gain access. If you’re traveling, change your settings so that the passcode is required every time you wake the device from sleep. It might be mildly inconvenient to keep entering your passcode, but it’s certainly more secure. And when your trip is over, you can reset it back to the way you prefer.
Make sure you Sync (or back up) your smartphone or tablet before you leave. Even though your device is expensive, in many cases the information stored on the device is even more expensive. If your device is lost, having a full back up on your computer at home can be a life saver. It also means that if your device is recovered, or you get a replacement, you can restore your data to the device just how it was before you left.
Make sure your Operating System software is up to date. Gone are the days when you’d buy a phone and expect to stay on the same system software forever. Nowadays, smartphones and tablets get system updates on a regular basis. These updates frequently contain fixes to exploits and other security holes, so it’s important to be on the latest version before you travel. This goes for new devices, too; many new devices sometimes sit in their boxes for months on end, meaning that they miss out on new system updates, so make sure that you check the manufacturer's website and update your device if necessary.
Turn on features that will enable you to track your phone. In the unfortunate event that your device gets mislaid, you want to make it as easy as possible to recover it. For example, if you have an iOS device turn on the Find my iPhone feature. These types of features will allow you to track the device to within metres. IMPORTANT: If you suspect someone has taken your device, do not try to retrieve it yourself if you locate it. Instead, inform local law enforcement and rely on them to retrieve the device for you.
Enable the Remote Lock and/or Wipe features. Not all devices have these features, but if yours does make sure that you enable it and understand how to use it. If you believe a criminal has your device in their possession, remote wipe it immediately; better that they only have your phone, and not your phone and your personal data as well. If you are lucky enough to recover your phone, you’ll be able to restore the backup you took before you set off on your vacation.
Don’t connect to Wi-Fi hotspots that do not have a password. If a hotspot doesn’t have a password, it’s insecure. And you shouldn’t log into insecure Wi-Fi hotspots. See Lesson 6 for more information about Wi-Fi hotspots.
Turn off Auto-fill on your browser. Auto-fill is a feature that many browsers have where your usernames and passwords are automatically filled-in when you visit websites that need a login. Turning this feature off means that if you do need to use a Wi-Fi network, your login credentials will not be sent over the Wi-Fi automatically; you’ll be able to decide when and where your details are sent.
Check to see if your travel insurance covers your smartphone or tablet. If not, consider upgrading your current cover if available. Remember that as well as covering your smartphone, many of these schemes also cover cameras, iPods and other gadgets. As always, read the small print to fully understand what is and isn’t covered.
Don’t conduct financial transactions over a Wi-Fi hotspot. It’s safer to wait and do this from home. If you need to check to see how much money you have in your account, visit an ATM machine or look for a local branch of your bank. If you know you have bills to pay that will come due while you’re traveling, why not set them up to be paid on a particular day? Most online banking systems now allow you to automate the payment of bills on specified days of the month.
Never use your debit card online. If you absolutely, definitely, positively need to make a purchase online while you’re traveling and you have to choose between your credit or debit cards, never use your debit card. This is because of the very important difference between credit cards and debit cards; with credit cards you can decline to pay any fraudulent charges that appear on the card simply by calling the credit card company and telling them that you did not make the purchase. They’ll then stop the charge and enter into a dispute with the seller on your behalf. This way, your current/checking account isn’t impacted and you won’t be out of pocket. However purchases made on your debit card are drawn straight from your current/checking account immediately. You’ll still need to call your bank in order to get things fixed, but in the meantime the money has already been taken from your account, and it might take some time before the bank decides to refund that money back to you. Typically that can take weeks but in extreme cases can take months.
Let’s get physical.
It’s not all about digital security, though. When traveling with expensive gadgets and equipment you also need to ensure that you take care of physical security. Thieves are always on the lookout for easy targets, so bear the following tips in mind:
Keep a low profile
When thieves are on the lookout for something to steal, that shiny new tablet is a prime target. Be as discreet as possible when using your device and try to keep its usage to a minimum in busy places. By having it constantly on show, you’re effectively saying “Hey – look at me! I have a mega-expensive gadget here!”
Now, I realise that some people do actually want to say that! But it’s never a good idea to advertise to potential thieves. Even when you’ve put your device into a bag and away from prying eyes, remember that you could have been observed while doing so. So always keep those bags close at hand and never leave them unattended.
Hugging-Mugging
One of the new types of criminal activity aimed at relieving you of your hard-earned smartphone is known as a hugging-mugging. Gangs of hugger-muggers target large groups of people celebrating events such as New Year’s, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, or even people gathering at large-scale events such as the Olympics. In the attack, the hugger-muggers will pretend to be celebrating with you and your group, to the extent that they end up laughing, joking, and even dancing with you. This eventually leads to them making physical contact with you – maybe with an arm around your shoulder or waist. At this point, the attempt is made to rummage through your pockets or bag in order to obtain your smartphone, wallet, or keys to your car while other members of the gang will attempt to shield the attack.
Before you realise what has happened, the attack is over and the hugger-muggers have dispersed into the crowd looking for another victim. By the time you do realise that you are no longer in possession of your phone, purse, or wallet, you’ll probably put it down to the fact that you mislaid or dropped it during the celebrations.
When out and about, especially during celebrations, watch out for this type of attack. Be wary of people getting too close to you, and ensure that your smartphone is not just sitting in an easily accessible place.
The conveyor belt scam
So you’re at the airport, waiting in line to put your bag containing your tablet computer through the x-ray machine. The two people ahead of you in the queue put their bags on the conveyor belt and so do you. The first person goes through, picks up his bags and disappears in the busy terminal. The second person has some sort of problem, resulting in the line being held up for a minute or two. By the time you get through, your bag containing your tablet is nowhere to be seen.
But what happened? Well, even though the two people in the queue appeared to be strangers, they were actually both part of the same scam team. While you were being held up by the second person, the first had already taken your bag and made off with it. Chances are your bag will be found not too far away, but minus anything of value – such as your tablet.
When waiting to put your bags through the x-ray machine, wait until the way through is clear before putting anything on the conveyor belt. If there are a number of items already on the belt, wait for them to be claimed at the other end before putting your items through.
Screen guards
How many times have you been using your smartphone or tablet on the train when you sense the person next to you staring intently at your screen? You might shift uncomfortably in your seat while tilting your device so that they can no longer see, but this just exposes your screen more to the person on your other side. If the information on your device is sensitive, or private consider using a screen-guard. These are special polarising filters that fit over your screen (much like a screen protector that you put on your phone to stop the screen from being scratched.) but which restrict the view so that you can only see the screen properly if you’re looking at it directly from in front. Anyone attempting to look at your screen from the side (for example the person sitting next to you on your plane, train, or coach) simply sees a black screen.
Safety First
This section wouldn’t be complete without some general safety tips. When traveling, many people do things that they wouldn’t normally do back home and so while some of this may be common sense, it’s still worthwhile highlighting.
Don’t make or receive calls while driving. It’s probably against the law and is extremely dangerous, especially when you add in the factors of you being in an unfamiliar car, driving in an unfamiliar location. If you have to take a call, pull over, be brief, and carry on with your journey. Once you’ve got to your destination, finish the conversation.
Don’t send SMS/text messages while driving. Again, it’s dangerous and probably against the law.
Put frequently called numbers into speed dial. Most phones allow you to set up a favourites or speed dial list. Ensure that you do this prior to leaving so that you can contact friends and family quickly and with the minimum of fuss.
Ensure that you know the relevant country codes. Many smartphones will work this out for you if you tell them your location but to be on the safe side, make sure that you know the international dialling codes for your home country and the country you are visiting. Every country is assigned what’s known as an ‘exit code’ which is what is used when dialling outside of that particular country. So to call a number back home, you’ll need to know the exit code for the country you are visiting. In addition, every country is assigned a country code which is the code you use to dial in to your home country. Lastly, you’ll need the telephone number you wish to call. Put it all together and you dial:
Origin country exit code + destination country code + telephone number.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s have a more detailed look of how not to use your smartphone.