Make sure that IT security is high on your holiday check list

The long summer holidays are almost upon us, and many of us will be taking a well-earned break – either some down time with our other half or a family adventure with the kids.

However, the chances are (and these chances soar if you have teenagers!) that your mobile phone or tablets will be catching that flight or ferry with you.

You may be needing to catch up on work emails or simply want to flood your social media channels with photos of your getaway.

But how do you look after those devices like laptops and PCs that will most likely be staying at home?

Home insurance and/or travel insurance will cover most cases of theft or accidental damage (be sure to check your policy) but it's still good practice to take a few simple steps to make sure your devices are as safe as they can be.

• Backup your devices: It’s so simple and it should be something you do regularly but, let's be honest, it’s easy to forget. Make it a priority to get everything backed up before you leave. Don't just back up to the cloud, consider having a backup to a separate hard drive too.

• Update your software: Again, a simple task that’s easily forgotten but can make a huge difference if anything goes wrong. Making sure you have up-to-date security software is paramount!
• Secure your devices: Use a PIN, pattern lock or two factor authentication. Don’t forget to add security authentication to your laptops and PC’s and please think carefully about any passwords you are using.
• Be wary of which Wi-Fi you connect to: It's tempting to connect to any free Wi-Fiwhen you’re away and save using up your valuable data allowance but really think carefully before connecting to unsecured public Wi-Fi. There’s a huge risk that your devices could be hacked, sensitive data stolen or get infected with malware.
• Be careful what you share on social media: You might think you’re just making your friends envious with your beach photos but if you make it public that you are away from home, any thieves will be able to take advantage of your absence. Now is a great time to check who sees your posts and consider making it private to ‘friends only’ so you know only those you trust can see where you are.  

Safe Local Trades member Ben Hemp from File Genie can offer a wealth of advice and support whether it’s about updating your software, backing up your devices or, if you think your device is not operating correctly. Get in touch at https://member.safelocaltrades.com/file-genie