Travel securely: Keep your information protected on the go

Travel
securely: Keep your information protected on the go

Technology
& Innovation

Learn
about a few simple things you can do to protect your personal information while
you travel.

Travel can
be one of life’s great pleasures, especially when you’re enjoying retirement.
Exploring new-to-you countries or revisiting favorite spots is fulfilling,
whether traveling by yourself or with family or friends. Regardless of who you
travel with, there can be the risk of an unwanted guest – in the form of threats
to your personal information.

In the age
of smartphones and abundant Wi-Fi hotspots, it’s important to remember that
your information travels with you. That’s why ensuring your devices, as well as
your credit and debit cards, are secure when you travel abroad is vital.
Fortunately, there are precautions you can take to help minimize the threat of
your sensitive data being compromised.

Be
mindful of your device settings

When
traveling, consider disabling certain settings on your devices, like Bluetooth
and your laptop’s webcam. Use Wi-Fi only through a trusted source rather than a
public or unknown source, and make sure your device doesn’t try to
automatically connect to networks when you aren’t using it.

Think about
using a virtual private network (VPN) while traveling. A VPN helps to keep your
personal information, browsing history and location private so you can use your
devices more securely on the road. There are numerous providers available for
purchasing VPN services, so you can explore the features that will work best
for your circumstances.

Limit
your account access while traveling

It’s also
important to be mindful of the websites you’re accessing while traveling. Even
when using a VPN, try to avoid accessing web accounts that contain any
sensitive information, such as your financial, personal or health information.
If you do need to access any such accounts, consider changing your passwords
when you arrive home as an added security measure.

Keep in mind
that any devices you might use that are not your own are especially unlikely to
be secure. Public computers, such as those in a hotel common workspace or an
internet café, pose an additional risk to your information. Looking up museum
hours or directions to your dinner reservations is one thing, but it’s best not
to use any sort of public computer for anything you need to supply a password
to access.

Think
about what you’re taking with you

Consider
which of your electronic devices you’re taking with you while you travel, and
which you may be able to leave at home. For example, leave your laptop at home
if you can, especially if you’re traveling for pleasure rather than business.
Likewise with your credit cards and any important documents – take only what
you need, and make sure you’re carrying them securely.

Be
prepared to verify purchases if needed

It’s always
a good idea to make sure your financial institution knows that you’ll be
traveling so your purchases aren’t flagged as fraudulent. You may still be
notified about suspicious charges, however, as stolen or counterfeit cards are
always a risk.

Check with
your credit card company before you travel to learn the process for approving
any charges the company may flag as fraudulent, so you know what to expect.
Debit cards also often have daily limits on ATM withdrawals and point of sale
purchases. Certain transactions at high-risk merchants or some transactions
identified as potentially fraudulent may also require additional verification
from the merchant. It’s good to be aware of all of this before your trip.

Next
steps

Here are a
few more tips for traveling securely:

• Use ATMs inside banks whenever
  possible and avoid standalone ATMs.
• Pay attention to the card
  reader. If it is loose or appears to be tampered with, do not use that
  ATM.
• If you lose a card, report the
  loss to your financial institution immediately.

Pendle Hill Advisors is proud to contribute to the Montgomery County
News with our weekly curated financial news and topics. If you have any
questions about the markets, your financial plan, or anything, please feel free
to reach out to our office for a no cost initial consultation.

Kent Pendleton, AAMS®

Financial Advisor, RJFS

Pendle Hill Advisors LLC

14375 Liberty St, Ste 109 | Montgomery, TX 77356

T 936-297-8267

Kent.Pendleton@raymondjames.com | www.raymondjames.com/pendlehilladvisors

Material created by Raymond James for use by its advisors. Securities offered through Raymond James
Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are
offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Pendle Hill
Advisors is not registered broker dealers and is independent of Raymond James
Financial Services.