Top 5 Tips for Keeping Your Data Safe When You Travel

As the years pass, the world seems to get smaller and smaller. Modern travel means there's simply nowhere on earth that you can't get to if you have the will and the resources. Many people are taking advantage of airline deals available in our struggling economy to explore distant lands they've never seen before. But if you're traveling for business, or expect to be out on the road for quite a while, chances are you can't leave all of your devices behind. People regularly travel with laptops, smartphones, tablets and even external hard drives, all of which make discovering hidden gems and navigating from point A to point B much easier. But all of that gear also means you need a whole new level of security, not only to keep your expensive accessories from being stolen, but also to make sure data new and old safely makes it home with you. The last thing you'd want is to download the thousands of pictures from your backpacking trip through Europe onto your computer, and then come home and find they've all disappeared. So here are five tips to help keep all of your data safe when you travel.

First off, secure your gear physically. If you're bringing a laptop or a tablet, make sure you purchase a high-quality travel bag to store them in. It should be well padded on the inside and sturdy enough on the outside to handle being accidentally dropped. But consider taking it to the next level with secure travel bags that can lock up. In some places you won't want to leave your computer on the table in your hotel or hostel, and many bags come with metal locks so you can link the bag up to a bedpost or metal pipe. For some computers you can get a lock that hooks right into it, so even if someone were to get into the bag they wouldn't be able to move the computer. Make sure you also take out insurance on all of your devices, so that they will be replaced if broken, lost or stolen.

Next, do what you must to digitally secure your gear. All of your devices should have a password before they can be accessed, so someone can't steal your data if they happen to get away with something. Make sure you regularly change that password, and don't make it anything obvious like your address or birthday.

You'll also want to back up all of the data you're bringing with you. Buy two external drives, a desktop one you can leave at home and a rugged drive that's up to traveling with you. Before you leave, back up absolutely everything on your home drive. Then as your travels progress, periodically back everything up on your smaller travel drive. That way if any one thing is lost, you won't lose all of your data. You can take it to the next level by uploading everything onto a cloud storage system.

Don't forget about identity theft when traveling. Your personal data must be kept more secure than anything else, or you could face credit fraud amongst a host of other issues. Make sure you keep all of your credit cards and your passport locked in the hotel safe when not in use, and physically on your person when you need them. If you're unfamiliar with your surroundings, consider a travel wallet that hangs around your neck, so you can hide those important documents underneath your clothes.

Finally, if you must bring expensive computing devices with you, be aware of the way you present yourself. It's a great idea to have a high-end carrying case to protect your laptop, but consider walking around with the case inside a nondescript backpack, instead of out in the open. Your smartphone should be kept in your pocket, not on your belt, and your tablet should never be left alone, not even for a moment. Check with the tourism office at your destination to see if they have any more info as to crime rates, and things you should watch out for. You don't want to walk around scared, but being smart about how much you flash around town is simply a sensible approach.