Working while traveling is a privilege a lot of people can enjoy these days. Take your laptop or a tablet with you wherever you go, and as long as you’ve got even a weak wifi signal, you can log on and make some money.
Whether you’re a serious digital nomad or you just fancy working here and there while you trot round the globe, you’re going to need to follow the same rules to keep your tech safe.
From physical safety to remaining safe while you’re connected to the internet, take tips like these on the road with you.
Double Check Your Travel Insurance Coverage
If you’re taking your tech on a travel trip with you, make sure you’ve got travel insurance that comes with device and/or gadget cover. This will ensure you’re covered in case of the tech being lost or stolen, or being broken while you’re in another country.
If you don’t find this cover in your policy, you may want to purchase a new one that does offer coverage for your devices as well. You can never be sure over whether or not they’ll come back in one piece with you!
Never Let Your Tech Out of Your Sight
This seems like an obvious and natural tip to keep in mind, but you’d be surprised just how many people leave their phone or tablet on a table and forget to come back for it! Don’t let yourself fall into this trap – always have a line of sight on the tech you’re traveling with.
For example, if you’re working in a local coffee shop and you nip to the counter to grab another latte, don’t leave your laptop open behind you. Make sure you’ve locked it and try to keep an eye on it while you’re away – even just a few feet and a few seconds can lead to someone grabbing it or knocking it as they pass through.
Never leave a valuable device unattended for more than a minute, and if you get chatting with someone while you’re at the counter or the bar, walk them back to your table with you. The more you’re with your tech, the less likely it is to go missing!
Check What You’re Connected to
What are you using to get online right now? Is it a wifi source with a lock symbol next to it? Then you’re probably going to be pretty safe while you surf the web. You don’t have to worry too much about the encryption of your data, and you can be fairly certain your payment details won’t go walkabout.
On the other hand, if you’re using 4G or 5G, or you’re using a public wifi anyone can access, your connection won’t be anywhere near secure.
Although, it may surprise you to learn that anything passed across 4G or 5G automatically comes with a level of encryption, making them a bit of a safer bet than public wifi. However, someone could still intercept and grab your data, meaning there’s still little peace of mind to be had.
If You Don’t Recognize Something, Uninstall it
It’s a good idea to check your programs list from time to time, not only to get rid of anything you don’t use anymore that’s taking up space, but to check if something you don’t recognize has been installed there.
Indeed, you can easily get rid of adware by being proactive, and then if you run a few antivirus and antimalware scans on top, you can be pretty certain your system is safe. Do this around once a week, or at least twice a month, and don’t let the symptoms of adware show up before you do something about your system’s integrity.
And programs like these can come from anywhere. Using an unsecured wifi source, for example, in a brand new destination you’ve never visited before. Anyone else can use this wifi, and they could even set up rerouting on it, meaning any links you click could lead you to something else entirely. Be careful and be vigilant!
Working remotely is a great way to bring in consistent income while you have fun living your best life. However, you’re going to need to keep any tech you take with you very, very safe! Don’t lose it, don’t take your eyes off it, and make sure you’re aware of the intricacies of online safety. And long story short, if you don’t trust a wifi source, please don’t use it!
