With the summer travel season in full swing many people across campus are attending conferences and research collaborations, taking part in study abroad programs, working remotely, and taking vacations. Whether you are presenting at an international symposium or checking email from an airport café, your devices and data travel with you — and so do cyber risks.
Cybercriminals increasingly target travelers because travel creates distraction, urgency, and unfamiliarity. Public Wi-Fi, lost devices, malicious charging stations, phishing emails disguised as travel alerts, and increased scrutiny at international borders create opportunities for sensitive data to be exposed. A few proactive steps can dramatically reduce your risk.
Protect your devices
If the trip involves research data, international collaborations, remote overseas work, or regulated information make sure you:
- Update university-owned and personal devices
- Protect devices and accounts with strong passwords
- Use multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Enable device encryption because it helps protect institutional data if a laptop, tablet, or phone is lost, stolen, or inspected.
If you are working with sensitive research, protected health information, student data, or export-controlled information, consult campus guidance before departure.
- Work with your collegiate unit or department (supervisor/HR/DEO) to discuss travel plans abroad and determine what access is needed and permissible.
- Find out if any of the institutional data you plan to access while you are abroad needs additional review. For example, reach out to the Office of Compliance about protected health information and the Office of the Vice President for Research for access to any restricted research.
- The university’s international travel and remote work guidance may require additional approvals or restrictions depending on your destination and business purpose.
Be aware of public spaces and phishing emails
Be cautious when using public networks and avoid conducting university business over unsecured Wi-Fi whenever possible. If travel requires remote access to institutional systems, use approved secure access and avoid unnecessarily downloading sensitive files. Even seemingly harmless actions like charging a phone at an unfamiliar USB station or connecting to a “free airport Wi-Fi” network can create opportunities for attackers.
Attackers know summer months bring increased travel and faster decision-making. A rushed click while navigating an airport terminal can quickly turn become a security incident. Recent security awareness campaigns across higher education have highlighted growing attacks involving phishing email, fake login portals, fraudulent job scams targeting students, and compromised travel-related accounts.
Taking additional steps to protect information is not about restricting flexibility or monitoring personal activity. It is about protecting the teaching, research, health care, and operational missions that depend on secure and trusted access to information. Security and privacy work best when it feels practical, empowering, and shared across the campus community.