Summertime and the living is easy — right? Well, maybe not so much if you always stay plugged in since email, geotagging and social media activities might actually endanger digital security while traveling, as new research from Intel underlines.
“Digital Detox: Unplugging on Summer Vacation,” is a new study from Intel Security that focuses on the ways people stay digitally connected while traveling as well as ways they may unknowingly be putting their personal identity and devices at risk.
Roughly 65 percent of U.S. respondents defined being unplugged as having no internet usage at all, while half said being unplugged means they did not make any phone calls, according to the study. The survey challenges the idea that Millennials would be the least likely to leave their devices behind on vacation since 49 percent reported that they were willing to unplug on vacation, while only 37 percent of those respondents between 40-50 years of age would do so.
“Consumers rely on technology to stay connected to their physical and digital worlds – whether at work, home or on vacation,” Gary Davis, chief consumer security evangelist at Intel Security, says. “People are often quick to use devices on vacation to access sensitive information without considering the potential risk. As a result, it’s crucial to impart safe digital habits to help consumers stay more secure when traveling.”
More than half (55 percent) of U.S. respondents to the survey who intended to unplug from their digital devices on vacation were unable to do so. Additionally, 65 percent of U.S. survey participants claimed their vacation was more enjoyable after unplugging.
Roughly 88 percent of Americans in the survey reported it did not stress them out to be unplugged from work and life back at home. And 51 percent of those who unplugged reported they connected better with travel partners because of unplugging.
American men seem more willing to leave their phone at home while going on vacation. Roughly 47 percent of them reportedly said they would leave their phones behind, while only 37 percent of women said that they would.
The study also suggests ways consumers can minimize travel security risks such as remembering that criminals can better monitor someone’s whereabouts via social media postings.
“Data can be expensive, but switching on Bluetooth and WiFi when out and about can be a recipe for disaster,” Intel Security notes. “Connecting to unprotected WiFi and Bluetooth devices can expose your personal information to a cybercriminal. You should be especially careful when exchanging payment information. With this in mind, make sure to update your Bluetooth and Wi-Fi history by removing previously ‘remembered’ wireless networks.”
The study also advises consumers to check and monitor accounts to keep an eye out for suspicious activity like in bank account history. If you aren’t meticulous about monitoring your activity, a criminal could have access to your accounts for quite some time before you are aware, it points out.
In March 2016, Intel Security commissioned MSI International to conduct the online global study among 13,960 consumers. They were between the ages of 21 to 54, evenly split by gender.
