Nearly half of us will be hitting the road or taking the skies for the upcoming holidays, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Here are some tips to help avoid a few common, and potentially devastating events that could derail your holiday cheer. 

Public Wi-Fi: Whether at the airport, hotel, or just a quick stop on the way, free Wi-Fi is everywhere. Unfortunately, there’s no simple way to ensure that hotspot is secure and not a scheme to steal your information. Avoid connecting if you can and confirm connection information with the property owner if you must connect.  

Social media oversharing: We love to post photos of friends and family as soon as they are taken but consider holding off until you return home. Those photos can share a lot of information, such as the fact that you’re not home, or even in the state. Alternatively, confirm your social media privacy settings are locked down to only share posts with the people that you know and trust. 

Tech gifts: Giving and receiving gadgets is fun, but make sure you also know the proper safety measures to set them up – if there are any! Smart devices like watches, speakers, doorbells, thermostats, locks, etc. are among the top gifts this year, but take some time to research those that offer the best privacy and safety features-especially if it’s going in your home! 

Tech & travel: It’s never in our travel plans to have a device lost or stolen, but just in case it happens, be sure any confidential information is kept safe. Always use a PIN, pattern lock, or preferably, a password to secure your device. Never bring a laptop with you that you aren’t willing to lose or have damaged or confiscated. 

While the items above present problems off campus, email-based threats are still the greatest threat on campus. ITS continues to simulate phishing attacks will assign training to individuals who are routinely susceptible. For more information on how to report phishing emails, see Reporting a Phishing Message (How-to). 

— Peter Lundstedt, ITS