As COVID restrictions lift across the United States and many of us are beginning to see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, people who have been cooped up in their homes are ready to travel this summer and experience something closer to "normal" life again. While there are plenty of tips on how to stay safe and healthy while traveling, it's also a good idea to consider your personal cybersecurity before packing those bags.
LastPass can protect your online accounts as you set off on some much-needed summer R&R. Here are four ways summer travel and LastPass can team up to make your trip stress-free and secure.
1. Use your password manager to stay secure on the go
When you have a password manager, you don't have to worry about remembering the right passwords for your favorite apps and streaming services. This will come in handy when you want to relax after a busy day enjoying warm weather, inspiring scenery, and good company.
Fortunately, you can take advantage of your password manager features wherever you go and whatever device you use. For example, you can use your password manager to securely sign into your Netflix account at an Airbnb. If you want to buy a new mobile game to play while you're en route to your next destination, you can sign into the app store and make the purchase with just a few taps.
Setting up these features is easy. Before you go, make sure to add all the passwords for your favorite apps and services to your password vault. Then, enable form autofill so you don’t have to remember all your credentials. This way, when you want to log into your favorite social media site and share pictures of your travels with friends and family, it'll be a snap.
2. Set up security alerts
With incidents like the RockYou2021 breach becoming more commonplace, it's important to make sure someone's minding your accounts while you're out having fun in the sun. LastPass has you covered here, too — it regularly monitors the dark web in case any of your usernames and passwords show up there. In the event that they do, LastPass can send you security alerts so you can change your password before someone tries to log in as you.
To activate this feature, simply add an email for security alerts. You can safeguard your accounts even further by adding a secondary security email address in case your primary account email is ever compromised. While you're sipping a frozen drink by the pool, you'll be able to enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing you're on top of your digital security.
3. Activate multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Planning on doing some work while you're traveling? Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your accounts before you depart. MFA adds an extra layer of security to your account by requiring you to provide another factor of authentication, like a special passcode sent via text message, a push notification, or a biometric such as a fingerprint scan.
MFA doesn't just protect your accounts — it also helps your IT team rest easy about your remote access. When you're logging into your work email or applications, they'll have higher confidence that it's really you logging in from an unusual location instead of a potential cyber criminal.
Speaking of which, MFA will also protect you if anyone ever does try to log into one of your accounts. Not only does MFA make it harder for them to gain access in the first place, but it also notifies you that a suspicious login attempt is underway. With a timely heads up, you and your IT colleagues can take swift action to protect your account, and you can go back to relaxing on the beach that much sooner.
4. Store your important travel documents in Secure Notes
Travel documents contain valuable personal information, and you wouldn't want them to fall into the wrong hands while you're on vacation. It's also handy to have them securely stored in the cloud so you don't have to rummage around for them in your bags. You can even share key documents with trusted family members or friends so someone in your group always has access to the most important information. Securely store travel documents, vaccine cards and ID information in Secure Notes before you go to ensure a safe and smooth trip.
Secure your accounts and savor your summer
There are a couple of other rules of thumb to keep in mind while traveling this summer. Although public Wi-Fi is handy, it's also insecure. Cyber attackers routinely monitor public Wi-Fi traffic in an attempt to steal usernames, passwords, and other private information. For this reason, it's better to use a private Wi-Fi link or a cellular hotspot. If you use a virtual private network (VPN) when you go online, you'll be even safer still.
Social media sharing is a great way to stay in touch with loved ones while you're on the road, but it's also riskier than you might expect. Malicious actors have been known to scrape public social media profiles and use seemingly harmless information from people's social posts to target them in spear phishing, CEO fraud, or business email compromise (BEC) attacks. Whenever possible, keep your updates private or be sparing with your public posts.
With a little common sense and some help from LastPass, this summer vacation can be one to remember for all the right reasons!
Discover how LastPass Premium can give you digital peace of mind while you're traveling this summer. 
