As the spring semester closes and summer rolls in, you may be busy fine-tuning your upcoming travel plans. Don’t forget to add tech prep to your to-do list.

According to a survey from All About Cookies, more than one-third of international travelers have had a smart device lost or stolen while traveling abroad.

No matter the destination, consider these tips to keep your devices safe and your data private while away from home:

Before You Leave

• Do you really need a phone, laptop and tablet? Limit the number of devices you bring to reduce the chance they are lost or stolen.
• Be sure devices require a strong passphrase, PIN or fingerprint scan to unlock.
• Enable multifactor authentication by downloading the Duo Mobile app and enrolling your devices. If you opt for a security key instead of the app, set up a PIN on the security key for better protection.
• Install updates to your devices’ operating systems and apps to protect against bugs and vulnerabilities.
• Back up your devices to ensure you can recover your data if a device goes missing.

While Traveling

• Use caution with public Wi-Fi. Although convenient, using public Wi-Fi in airports, hotels and restaurants puts your information at risk. Activities such as online shopping and banking are especially risky.
• If you do connect to public Wi-Fi, always use a virtual private network (VPN) to keep your connection secure. For university business, use the NC State VPN.
• Disable bluetooth when not in use to avoid accidentally connecting to or sharing data with unknown devices.
• Never let a stranger borrow your phone. Criminals can take advantage of your kindness by stealing money or data from your devices or even locking you out of your accounts.

In Case of Loss or Theft

• Enable device-finding functionality on your devices to help find them if lost or stolen. You can even delete data remotely to keep it out of the wrong hands. Learn how to manage these settings for Android or Apple devices.
• Report lost or stolen university-owned devices immediately.

Get more tips for safe international travel. If you have questions, contact the NC State Help Desk via the NC State IT Service Portal or call 919.515.HELP (4357).