- A technology specialist has cautioned against utilizing unknown websites to arrange flight bookings.
- They similarly advised tourists to verify their smartphone plans prior to making calls.
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Concise travel preparation list: Bring along an additional mobile charger, save your boarding pass on your smartphone, and carry more food items than you anticipate needing.
I wish technical advice could be so straightforward. However, the consequences are far more severe as well.
Starting from making reservations all the way through departure, these are five errors that can spoil your getaway—along with wise tips for a hassle-free journey.
1. Purchasing tickets from an obscure website with an incredible discount
You look up flight tickets on the internet or respond to an email. Faced with numerous websites and applications, you opt for the most affordable choice.
The website guarantees an excellent rate, prompting you to purchase the ticket. You reserve what seems like a confirmed seat and receive an email confirming everything is arranged.
You go to the airline's primary website, input your details, and instantly—there’s your confirmed seating assignment.
The allocated space expires after two weeks, and consequently, your spot disappears. Upon discovering this, you seek assistance from the airline. Typically, however, they cannot offer much aid as merely a booking had been made.
Thieves excel at developing counterfeit applications and websites designed to deceive you. Luckily, there are indicators to look out for that can assist in steering clear of such scams.
● Consult authoritative sources: The Better Business Bureau can significantly help in verifying if a company is legitimate. This organization maintains records of genuine businesses; if your potential partner isn’t listed, it’s wise to proceed cautiously.
● Check online reviews and ratings: Browse through feedback on platforms such as TripAdvisor, Yelp, or Google. Be wary of overly positive or negative comments which might be fake. Look instead for an equilibrium of opinions with recurring patterns.
● Accreditation and Licensing: Numerous reputable travel agencies hold memberships with well-known industry groups such as the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) or possess IATA (International Air Transport Association) certification. Look for these qualifications on their website.
● Clear pricing: Reputable websites disclose all expenses transparently. Be cautious of platforms with concealed charges or ambiguous cost structures.
● Safe payment methods: Trustworthy travel websites provide secure, widely recognized payment choices. Exercise caution with platforms that accept payments solely through bank transfers or money orders.
2. Using a public charger at an airport
When your battery is running low and you have nowhere to charge, a public charging station can feel like a lifesaver. However, these stations are surprisingly vulnerable to tampering.
Using merely a USB cable, a cybercriminal has the ability to install malicious software or extract information from each gadget that gets connected for charging purposes.
If you urgently need power for your device, you can do so safely using a USB connection... provided you have the correct cable. Bring along a charging-only cable when traveling; they are inexpensive, small, and prevent data transmission.
If your mobile device isn’t too outdated or recent, it might prompt you with an option to ‘trust this device’ or ‘share data’ upon connection. When abroad, always opt out of these requests!
These choices enable data exchange between your device and the charging station, potentially exposing you to malicious software.
Select the 'charge only' mode. If this isn't an option, continue walking.
3. Keeping AirDrop open for everyone
Keyloggers monitor everything you type, and cybercriminals often use Apple's AirDrop function to distribute these malicious tools.
Do not accept items from unknown individuals during your journey.
On your iPhone:
● Navigate to Settings > General > AirDrop.
You have the option to configure your device to decline all AirDrop requests, accept them solely from people in your contact list, or permit them from anyone. (Choosing the latter might not be wise when traveling.)
On a Mac:
● Click the Control Center in the menu bar (represented by an icon with two sliders).
● Tap on AirDrop. Here, you have the option to enable or disable it and select whom may send content to your device.
4. Giving your cellphone to an unfamiliar person to take a photograph
My buddy Mary was visiting Rome with her 14-year-old daughter.
They halted to snap some selfies when a friendly-looking stranger—a man in his thirties—offered to photograph them.
Mary entered her PIN, passed the phone, and the so-called Good Samaritan grabbed it and fled.
Your mobile device holds far greater value than what can be gleaned from its resale price. (Although, if you own a recent model, that price might be quite tempting indeed.)
Consider all the linked accounts: your banking systems and various financial applications, along with your email inbox and confidential text messages that may contain sensitive information.
Here are several straightforward methods to safeguard yourself:
● In public settings, protect your PIN number. Should you need to unlock your device around others, opt for biometric authentication like Face ID or fingerprints instead.
● Avoid using a simple PIN; definitely skip the four-digit ones! Opt for something lengthy that you can still recall easily.
● If you prefer not using Face ID, opt for a passcode combining both numbers and letters when this option is available on your device.
5. Overlooking the inspection of data roaming charges/services
Ouch, your sore wallet. Before setting off for the road, sea, or sky, make sure to visit your mobile carrier’s webpage or contact their customer support to clarify precisely what services they offer during international trips. Be aware that coverage might be limited to particular nations, timeframes, or data caps.
Be aware of this beforehand; you won’t realize it until you receive the invoice. Based on your needs, opting for a travel SIM or an eSIM might be more advantageous.
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