We can finally travel abroad, and naturally, what do we do – post about it online. 

Photo of passport – check

Photo of boarding pass – check

Stolen ID number and sensitive information – check

In light of the FIFA World Cup coming up in November and the year-end travel season starting soon, we thought we’d share some social media safety tips while travelling.

We don’t realise the extent to which we ‘expose ourselves’ online. What do we mean by this? Well, the world of cybercrime is looking for people to do just that – expose themselves. Travelling poses an additional cyber risk to individuals and businesses all year round. From being careless about online bookings to disregarding cyber security best practices, travellers often have their guards down when they travel, leaving security concerns to the back of their minds.

So how does travelling relate to social media? It relates in the sense that our entire lives are now online and on social media. We all love social media as it gives us the ability to connect with friends and loved ones globally, reminisce on old memories, catch up on the latest news or whatever tickles your fancy. However, with users spending so much time online, comes the inevitable dangers synonymous with social media. These dangers are exploited by social engineers who use social media for malicious intent. 

Bearing this all in mind, how do we ensure that we remain safe?

1. Know Who Your Friends Are

Social networks have no way to verify that someone is who they say they are. This may open your profile information and posts to strangers.

Be extremely selective about who you friend/verify.

2. Oversharing

Cybercriminals can use data posted on social media about you to impersonate you and commit fraudulent activities.

Don’t share historical personal or sensitive personal information on social media.

3. Be Careful of What You Post

Your social media profile is an advertisement of yourself. Your profile will be viewed by friends, family, and employers – what you post can have real-world consequences for job applications, promotions and personal relationships. REMEMBER – Once it’s on the Internet, it’s there forever.

4. Signing in with Social Media

Many websites allow you to sign in with an existing social networking account. This can make you vulnerable to attacks. Should that social media account get hacked then all your other accounts linked to it will be compromised.

Travelling and seeing the world is exciting. However, we need to stay vigilant and be cyber-savvy at all times. Now go on – do the right thing and follow the above guidelines so you can travel with more peace of mind!

Looking for additional safety tips? Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn, message us on either Whatsapp or Email or visit GoldPhish 👋

Esteffan Coetzee is the Digital Marketing Manager for GoldPhish. GoldPhish educates end-users on the cyber threat and helps build more secure organisations with awareness training and phishing simulation. 

Get in touch for more information or to start a free, 30 day trial: info@goldphish.com