A phone now carries much of a holiday with it. Boarding passes, hotel confirmations, banking apps, maps and messages may all sit on the same device.

 

However, most precautions are easier to handle before departure. Updating devices, reviewing account recovery details and deciding how you will connect abroad can prevent problems when you are already moving between airports, hotels and unfamiliar networks.

Secure the accounts you will depend on

Start with the accounts that would cause the biggest disruption if you lost access to them. For example, your email deserves particular attention because it is often used to reset passwords for travel and financial services.

 

Use unique passwords and switch on multifactor authentication where available. Check that recovery phone numbers and email addresses are current, especially if you plan to replace your usual SIM. Save essential booking information for offline access. And lastly, install your operating system and app updates before leaving.

Check bookings before scammers get involved

Travel bookings create opportunities for convincing fraud because travellers expect confirmation emails, payment requests and messages about changes. A message can look routine while directing the recipient to a copied booking page.

 

Mastercard’s 2025 research into travel fraud found that travel-related industries experienced more than twice the median fraud rate across sectors. Reported fraud rates also rose by more than 18% at popular summer destinations during warm periods.

 

Before paying, use the booking provider’s official app or type its address yourself instead of relying on an unexpected link. If a hotel requests a different payment method, contact it through details already shown in your original booking.

Test security tools before departure

If you plan to use a VPN on unfamiliar networks, install and test it before the trip. Make sure you know how to connect, disconnect and recognise when it is active.

 

If CyberGhost is one of the services you are assessing, details on CyberGhost’s free trial are on their official page. Testing at home can show how a tool behaves on your devices, but a VPN should sit alongside other precautions rather than replace them.

 

Public Wi-Fi is not automatically dangerous, and HTTPS protects much web traffic. Still, verify the network name before joining, avoid ignoring browser security warnings and use mobile data for sensitive tasks if the network seems suspicious.

Plan how you will get online abroad

Having mobile data available after landing reduces dependence on nearby Wi-Fi. Roaming, local SIMs and eSIMs each have different costs and coverage.

 

Our guide to getting connected in Indonesia and Bali shows why checking device compatibility before departure matters, particularly for travellers planning to install an eSIM. Elsewhere, the same principle applies: confirm that your phone is unlocked, understand roaming settings and save activation details offline.

 

Mobile data also provides a fallback when airport, café or accommodation Wi-Fi is difficult to verify.

Protect the device, not just the connection

Use a strong screen lock and enable location or remote-wipe features before travelling. Keep a backup of important documents and photographs so a stolen or damaged phone doesn’t become a data-loss problem.

 

Think about what is necessary to carry. Old downloads, identity-document scans and work files may remain on a laptop long after they are needed. Removing unnecessary sensitive material limits what can be exposed if a device goes missing.

 

Social sharing deserves similar care. Posting a live location, room number, boarding pass or detailed itinerary can reveal more than intended.

A simple travel security routine

Before

• Update devices and apps.
• Review passwords, MFA and recovery details.
• Save essential bookings offline.

 

During

• Confirm network names before connecting.
• Keep devices locked and physically close.
• Question unexpected payment or account messages.

 

After

• Review account alerts and recent sign-ins.
• Remove travel eSIMs or network profiles you no longer need.
• Back up photographs and delete unnecessary travel documents.

Travel with fewer digital surprises

Online security doesn’t need to dominate a holiday. Just a short preparation session before leaving can reduce the number of decisions you have to make while travelling.

 

Know how you will connect, secure the accounts you rely on and keep unnecessary sensitive data off the devices you carry. Those habits make it easier to focus on the trip.