The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are right around the corner. Over two weeks of the best athletes in the world competing in everything from taekwondo to table tennis for that elusive gold medal. Whether you’re heading to the French capital or traveling in the spirit of global competition, keeping your digital life secure on-the-go shouldn’t take a backseat with the rest of your luggage.
By following these five steps, you can focus on seeing the sights, watching the athletes, and enjoying that well-deserved PTO.
1. Use a password manager
Don’t get stuck at the back of the line because you forgot your password. With LastPass, you don't have to worry about remembering the right passwords for your favorite apps when you’re out and about. 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 that your credentials automatically are entered in the required fields. Buy tickets and reserve tickets quickly and efficiently – before they sell out!
2. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your accounts before you depart. MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to provide another factor of authentication, like a push notification, or a biometric such as a fingerprint scan. You’ll be notified if a login attempt is underway, giving you the chance to reset your password quickly in the event of any suspicious activity. You can also go passwordless using the LastPass Authenticator app, gaining instant access to your accounts.
3. Store your important travel documents in Secure Notes
Securely store travel documents, hotel reservations, plane ticket numbers, and ID information in Secure Notes before you go to ensure a safe and smooth trip. Travel documents contain valuable personal information, and you wouldn't want them to fall into the wrong hands. It's also handy to have them securely stored in the cloud so you don't have to keep these sensitive documents on your person.
4. Avoid public WiFi
Although public Wi-Fi can be handy, it's also insecure. Hackers routinely monitor public Wi-Fi traffic 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're unable to use cellular data and the only available WiFi is public (think, arriving at the airport or at a large stadium), use a VPN to secure your data. You can download a VPN app that you’ll turn on when using public WiFi. The VPN will route your internet traffic, keeping your online activity private – and safe.
5. Backup your data
Far from home, you lose your phone. Dropped in a fountain, swiped by a savvy thief, or left on a bus, a good data backup is critical in this kind of situation, helping you get back up and running as quickly as possible. If you don't yet have a cloud data backup in place, now's the time to arrange one. Whatever backup tool you end up using, make sure it encrypts your data. That way, hackers won't be able to see what's inside your data backup.
Once back home, it’s good to still stay vigilant and check up on any accounts you used while abroad:
- Watch for unusual account activity, especially if you used unsecured WiFi or public computers on your trip. Look for unusual credit card charges, unprompted login alerts, password reset emails or account lockout emails.
- Use dark web monitoring to also monitor for credentials leaked in data breaches. Follow the instructions LastPass provides in any alerts you receive.
Passport, tickets, luggage, LastPass. This summer, whether lucky enough to witness the 2024 Summer Olympics in the City of Light or traveling in the spirit of global camaraderie, use LastPass (and these tips) to keep your information secure. Bon voyage!
