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International Travel with Mobile Phones, Laptops or Other Electronic Devices

General Information on International Travel

In most countries you have no expectation of privacy in Internet cafes, hotels, offices, or public places. Hotel business centers and phone networks are regularly monitored in many countries. In some countries, hotel rooms are often searched.

All information you send electronically – by fax machine, personal digital assistant (PDA), computer, or telephone – can be intercepted. Wireless devices are especially vulnerable.

Security services and criminals can also insert malicious software into your device through any connection they control. They can also do it wirelessly if your device is enabled for wireless. When you connect to your home server, the “malware” can migrate to your business, agency, or home system, can inventory your system, and can send information back to the security service or potential malicious actor.

Malware can also be transferred to your device through thumb drives (USB sticks), computer disks, and other “gifts.”

Transmitting sensitive government, personal, or proprietary information from abroad is therefore risky.

Corporate and government officials are most at risk, but don’t assume you’re too insignificant to be targeted.

Foreign security services and criminals are adept at “phishing” – that is, pretending to be someone you trust to obtain personal or sensitive information.

If a customs official demands to examine your device, or if your hotel room is searched while the device is in the room and you’re not, you should assume the device’s hard drive has been copied.

Before You Travel

1. Use a Clean Temporary Device:
   • Purchase or borrow a temporary device (e.g., a laptop or smartphone) specifically for your trip. ITS has a limited number of loaner laptops and can provide them for International Travel on an as-available basis. A request can be made here: [  ].  Requests should be made at least two weeks prior to your travel.
   • Set up the device with minimal necessary apps and login to personal accounts only when necessary. 
   • Avoid syncing with cloud services to prevent any personal data from being transferred to the device.
2. Backup and Remove Data (for personal devices):
   • Backup your data to an external hard drive or a secure cloud service.
   • Remove sensitive data from your primary device, including personal documents, photos, and saved passwords.
3. Encrypt Your Devices:
   • Enable full-disk encryption on your devices to protect data in case of loss or theft.
   • Use strong passwords and consider using a password manager to generate and store them securely.
4. Update Software and Security:
   • Ensure all software and apps are up-to-date with the latest security patches.
   • Install reliable security software to protect against malware and other threats.
5. Disable Auto-Connect Features:
   • Turn off auto-connect for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to prevent your device from connecting to untrusted networks.

Your 91��Ƶ provisioned primary device that you will leave at home while you travel does not have to be backed up, since automatic backups were already configured. 

During Your Travel

1. Use 91��Ƶ’s Virtual Private Network (VPN):
   • Connect to 91��Ƶ’s Virtual Private Network (vpn.pace.edu) to encrypt your internet traffic and protect your online activities from prying eyes.
2. Avoid Public Wi-Fi:
   • Use mobile data or a personal hotspot instead of public Wi-Fi whenever possible.
   • If you must use public Wi-Fi, ensure it is a secure network and avoid accessing sensitive information.       Use of VPN is strongly recommended.
3. Limit Device Usage:
   • Minimize the use of your devices for sensitive activities such as online banking or accessing personal accounts.
   • Log out of accounts after use and avoid saving login credentials on the device.
   • Avoid using public access computers commonly found in hotel lobbies or Internet cafes.
4. Be Cautious with Physical Security:
   • Keep your devices with you at all times and avoid leaving them unattended.
   • Use a privacy screen to prevent others from viewing your screen in public places.

After You Return

1. Review Account Activity:
   • Check your accounts for any suspicious activity and report any unauthorized access immediately
   • If you feel you may have been compromised:
     • Change all passwords for accounts accessed during your trip to new, strong passwords.
   • Update your password manager with the new passwords.
2. Scan for Malware:
   • Run a thorough malware scan on your devices to ensure they are free from any malicious software.
3. Restore Data:
   • Restore your data from the backup you created before your trip (for your personal devices) once you have determined your device is clean.
   • Ensure that only necessary data is restored to avoid cluttering your device with unnecessary information.

By following these recommendations, you can significantly reduce the risk of exposing your personal data during international travel and ensure your devices remain secure.