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Top 10 #Travel Apps Fail Tests to Keep Your Data Secure

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• published: 17 Aug 2016
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According to BlueBox, the top 10 #travelapps all failed their #datasecurity tests - What you can do about it. At Good Neighbor Insurance we are committed to your safety when you travel. And we love travel apps. See our recommended apps at: https://www.gninsurance.com/essential-travel-apps/ and our trusted medical apps at: https://www.gninsurance.com/medical_apps_for_travel/ Our hope is that the following information helps you travel safer and smarter. The complete article will be coming out in our free Fall Tavel Safety Guide 101 that you can get at https://www.gninsurance.com, or by emailing us at moreinfo@gninsurance.com. It appears that BlueBox may no longer making this .pdf available online after being bought out by www.lookout.com. Try http://offers.bluebox.com/rs/080-XOX-229/images/wp-top-travel-apps.pdf Another article discussing the research can be found at: http://www.networkworld.com/article/2983915/mobile-apps/top-10-most-popular-android-and-ios-travel-apps-contain-critical-security-flaws.html and at http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-29/your-smartphone-knows-who-you-are-and-what-you-re-doing The EASIEST Way to STOP CYBER CRIME? 1.) Keep your phone secure – Follow the tips throughout this video and guide. Your phone may be the equivalent of one to two years salary for many of the people where you are going. That is a big temptation. Do not store your phone in a back pocket. Do not leave it out on the table at restaurants and cafes. Do not walk down the street with your phone in your hand. 2.) NEVER use open/free WiFi locations, including the airport, coffeebars, museums, or hotels, without getting and using a VPN: Depending on your destination: https://www.expressvpn.com/vpn-server#locations https://www.purevpn.com/server_location.php https://www.tunnelbear.com/features http://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_us/vpn-server 3.) Lock your homescreen on your phone using a thumbprint or a number. Encrypt your phone’s data and/or SD card (iOS is automatically encrypted by using a lockscreen. For Android, you have to go through Settings/Security/Encryption.) http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-encrypt-your-ios-or-android-device/ 4.) Turn off browser preferences – Turn off “Remember logins for sites” and delete cookies, private data, and passwords BEFORE going overseas. Use “Tracking Protection in Private Windows” or Use Private Browsing windows. (Firefox) or “Send a Do not track” and “Offer to save passwords” under Settings/Advanced Settings in Chrome. Also check Settings/Privacy/Content settings And delete strange or unknown certificates and certificate authorities. 5.) Use different passwords and log-ins for travel apps than what you use for your bank account or Amazon.com 6.) Use travel apps for research rather than purchasing. Do not enter private data into these apps. 7.) Consider creating a new travel email that forwards all your mail to your real account. Then if the account is compromised, there is no mail to read. 8.) Only download apps from trusted sources such as Google Play Store and the App Store. Keep all apps updated so that you have no new vulnerabilities that have been patched. Use a lock/wipe app and know the phone number/website you’ll need to report your phone stolen or compromised! Lock your phone remotely as soon as you discover it is missing! As I mentioned, if your data is compromised (even if you freeze or close your credit card), cyber criminals will still have your social security number, your address (unless you sell your house and move as a result!), and other critical data which means they can get access to any new accounts you open even years later and can also request credit reports to find new accounts/open accounts. If your phone is stolen: First, call the police and attempt to locate and lock the phone using your phone’s GPS or “Find” software. If unsuccessful, resort to wiping the phone remotely so that your private data stays that way. You backed up before your trip right? Hopefully all you’ll lose are some pictures and maybe your contacts until you can get your phone replaced. If your phone is owned by your company, they may be able to remote lock or wipe your phone. Ask before you travel just to be sure. Contact your provider and have your cell service and data disabled. – Maybe, hopefully, the person who stole it doesn’t want your data or doesn’t know how to sell your data to a third party. Maybe they just want to make $3000 worth of cell calls. And don't forget to pick up your copy of the guide, either in print or online! Mark Sequeira Good Neighbor Insurance #traveltips   #travel