Travelling is a great experience. We get to see beautiful places and do things we wouldn’t normally do at home.

However, when we overshare things on social media, like our travel plans, we may be putting ourselves at risk.

Be careful when sharing your pictures and checking in online. As this can tell criminals that your home is empty.

Moreover, if you’re a fan of using free Wi-Fi, you may also be a target for hackers who wouldn’t hesitate to steal your identity or worse, personal information or credit card details.

So, if you don’t want anything untoward to happen to you, we’ve got several ways you can do to protect your personal data and electronic devices while travelling.

Never share your flight information

Thanks to technology, it’s almost too easy to steal another person’s identity or private details. A simple snap of a boarding pass posted on social media is a goldmine for prospecting cybercriminals.

Remember that a boarding pass contains important information like your full name, which airline company you chose to make your trip, where you are headed to and when you are leaving, booking reference, and other crucial details.

So, sharing your travel information to the world will not only put yourself at great risk but may also endanger your family, friends or even your job at risk.

Perform a security audit of all your social media accounts

Avoid putting personal details like your home address or where you work on your social media accounts. Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t personally know well, or you’ve never even met offline.

Don’t announce to everyone when you are departing or post images that reveal important documents, like your passport. If possible, ask a friend or relative to look after your home while you’re on holiday.

Don’t leave a digital trail

Whenever you check into places, it’s easy for hackers to track your location by using location tags or even a quick Google search can help them piece together a rough idea of where you are or where you live.

Also, don’t post images or statuses in real-time. This will enable hackers to keep tabs on where you are and what you are currently doing.

Post your vacation pics when you’ve returned

Criminals can enter your home while you are away. They can tell when you’re away by what you share online. That includes tagging your location and uploading holiday pictures.

Share your holiday pictures after you’ve returned. That way, you are sure that your home is safe.

Think twice before you share

Even if you’re not travelling, you should always think carefully about what you want to share on social media. Determine whether the information you want to share would be exploited by cybercriminals. By using these simple best practices, you can protect yourself, your friends, and loved ones.

More from Alpha Airport Parking blog:

• • How to Avoid missing your flight

• • How to Plan an Inexpensive Family Vacation

• How to Pass Time During a Long Flight