Today, our smartphones store a wealth of personal and financial information, which can be especially vulnerable when traveling internationally. When traveling, your device is more vulnerable to increased surveillance, hacking attempts, and theft. The solution is straightforward: take as many precautions as possible to safeguard your device.

1. Avoid Roaming Charges and Data Leaks

International roaming charges can be pretty steep, and mobile data use abroad may pose security risks if you are not careful. Here’s how to protect yourself:

• Disable Roaming: Turn off data roaming to avoid automatic connection to local networks that might charge you high fees or compromise your security.
• Use Global Roaming Plans: you may purchase a local SIM card or an eSIM for your destination country. For example, if you’re traveling to Indonesia, an Indonesia eSIM can be your best value and safest alternative to traditional roaming
• Choose secure roaming plans with your international carrier to stay connected at lower costs without risking data security.

This will help you avoid excess costs, protect your data, and prevent unauthorized access while traveling.

2. Use Strong Authentication Methods

Strong authentication provides a solid first line of defense for your device. Weak passwords or easily guessed PINs leave your data vulnerable:

• Biometric Authentication: Use fingerprint or facial recognition. These are more secure than simple passwords and add a layer of protection if your phone goes missing or is stolen.
• Turn On 2FA: Enable two-factor authentication on apps that access sensitive information, like your emails, bank accounts, and work apps. This requires an additional authentication code sent to your phone, adding a layer of security beyond your password.

Turning on biometric and two-factor authentication will make it very hard for unauthorized persons to access your phone.

3. Don't make sensitive transactions over public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi networks are everywhere in airports, cafes, and hotels. Public Wi-Fi networks are inherently unsafe because hackers can intercept any unencrypted data. How to stay safe:

• Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network): A VPN encrypts your internet connection, thus safeguarding your data from hackers. Make use of a VPN each time you access public Wi-Fi.
• Avoid Sensitive Transactions: Even with your VPN up, try not to log in for banking apps and do not shop online using the internet. Avoid entering information for credit card companies, healthcare providers, government services, or financial institutions. Make a good security habit.

Opt to use mobile data or a secure private network instead.

4. Update Your Software Before You Leave

Before you travel, make sure that your phone's operating system and apps are up to date. Chances are that most of the updates will include critical security patches that close vulnerabilities that hackers might be able to exploit.

• Update your Operating System: Update your operating system, whether it is iOS or Android, to keep yourself ahead of the latest threats.
• App Updates: Update your applications, prioritizing those with sensitive data like financial and work-related apps. I would give a lot of attention to personal apps with financial data and professional use. Older app versions can contain security flaws that leave them vulnerable to hacking.

Thus, you decrease the opportunity for malware and cyberattack from a well-known bug or hole.

5. Encrypt Your Data

Encryption ensures that even if your device is lost or stolen, no one can access your data without the correct passcode or key.

• iOS Devices: Apple will automatically encrypt your data when you set up a passcode or use biometric authentication. Make sure these are on.
• Android Devices: Many Android devices have encryption on by default, but older versions need to be manually enabled.

Encryption makes it much harder for a thief to access your personal information in case your device gets stolen or compromised.

6. Limiting Data Access and Permissions

Apps often request more access to your data than they need. Before traveling, go through app permissions and limit data access to sensitive information.

• Review App Permissions: Go through your settings to disable the permissions of apps that don't need access to your location, contacts, camera, etc., or any other private information.
• Use App Lockers: Apply an app locker on an application containing sensitive information, perhaps banking or email applications, and it will secure any information that your phone falls into the wrong hands in the event that you lose it.

By limiting app permissions, you reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your sensitive information.

7. On Your Guard against Domestic Surveillance Risks

Your mobile device is susceptible to government interception while you are traveling to your destination. In certain jurisdictions, they intercept and monitor communications or trace locations.

• Turn off Location Services: Use Location services only for applications that require this feature. Social media or weather apps do not require this. It can then not track your location.
• Use Encrypted Messaging Apps: Use safe messaging apps such as Signal, WhatsApp, or Telegram. This app uses end-to-end encryption to ensure that messages are read only by the sender and the recipient.

Use encrypted messaging apps, and turn off other unnecessary tracking features to protect yourself from regions with intense surveillance.

8. Activation of remote tracking and wiping

You can track, lock, or even wipe your device if lost or stolen by saving it from falling into the wrong hands.

• iOS: Enable "Find My iPhone," which allows you to locate, lock, and erase your device from afar.
• Android: Use "Find My Device" to track and erase your phone if lost or stolen.

It is essential to enable these options before you leave so you can regulate your device if something disastrous happens.

9. Ensure Data Backup Before Your Trips

Travel may at times result in misplacement or theft of your cell phones, which may expose very crucial information. Before you leave, make sure your data is backed up:

• Cloud Back: Cloud services like Google Drive, iCloud, and even Dropbox can be employed by a user to have documents, contacts, or photos backed up.
• External backup: For more assurance one can back up on important data on an encrypted outside hard disk or flash disk.

With a backup, you do not risk losing access to files when your phone becomes compromised.

10. Safeguard Mobile Payments

Make a mobile payment while abroad by using your phone with care, but fraudsters might exploit the same convenient technology to access your phone and make unauthorized payments against your will. To continue staying safe:

• Use Secure Payment Services: Be keen to use only secure means of making payments, just as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal which offer tokenization to mask the card details.
• Avoid Entering Payment Info on Untrusted Sites: Avoid entering your payment details on untrusted websites, especially over public Wi-Fi.

Secure payment apps ensure that it keep your financial information is well-protected even in some unknown places.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is it safe to use public Wi-Fi networks while traveling internationally?

Public Wi-Fi is insecure. Always use a VPN to encrypt your connection and avoid accessing sensitive information like banking apps on these networks.

2. Should I use my mobile device’s default security settings when traveling abroad?

Default settings are often insufficient for international travel. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA), encrypt your device, and update your software before leaving.

3. What should I do if my mobile device is lost or stolen while abroad?

Use remote tracking and wiping features (e.g., "Find My iPhone" or "Find My Device") to locate, lock, or erase your device. Notify your carrier to suspend service if necessary.

4. Are encrypted communication apps necessary for international travel?

Yes. Encrypted apps like Signal, WhatsApp, and Telegram ensure your communications remain private, particularly in countries with extensive surveillance.

Conclusion

When traveling internationally, your mobile device holds a wealth of personal and professional information. By following these steps—such as using strong authentication, encrypting data, avoiding unsecured networks, and enabling remote tracking—you can greatly reduce privacy and security risks. Stay proactive about your mobile security, and you’ll have peace of mind during your travels.