Want to travel? Here are 8 tech things to check before you go

Our technology inevitably accompanies us when we travel. Most of us wouldn't walk down the street without our smartphones. When you're traveling, not having your technology with you when you need it can ruin your day.  

Travel smarter and safer by checking several things before you go. Use our handy travel tech checklist to avoid the hassle of lost devices, missing chargers, or data theft.  

1. Check your apps

Have you ever stopped at an airport gate and wondered why it looked so empty? Only to find out later that your gate had changed, and you had no idea. You rush to the other end of the hall, hoping you're not too late.  

How come everyone else knew about the change but you didn't? They most likely had the airline's app and received a notification.

Before you travel, make sure you download all the apps you might need. It's best to download them when you're at home or on your own Wi-Fi. If you wait until you're at the airport, network reception may be problematic.

Some of the apps that would be worth downloading or updating before your trip are:

• Airline app
• Train app  
• Hotel application
• Theme Park App
• Campground Application
• Weather app
• Urban tourism application

2. Check your wires and adapters

People forget countless chargers and adapters every day. These are plentiful in airports, restaurants, and train stations around the world. Make sure you bring a backup charger for your laptop, tablet, and/or phone. Otherwise, you may find yourself paying extra for a new charger at a gift shop.  

3. Check your battery power level

A great way to ensure you have the power you need is to purchase a small battery pack. You can find them at most big box stores or online. They're small "blocks" that hold a charge and can power up a cell phone in a snap.

Having this extra charge also helps you avoid potential "juice jacking" ports. These are fake or compromised public USB charging ports. Hackers use them to steal your data when you connect.  

4. Check your mobile plan

If you're traveling abroad, you'll want to check your cell phone plan. If you don't have international calling options, you may not be able to text or call home.  

Providers can add an international option to your plan, but check the pricing. This can be expensive if you make long calls or use mobile data. An alternative is to set up a VoIP app that you can use for the office or for friends or family while traveling. These allow both calls and texts, but you'll need an internet connection.

5. Check or add a VPN

Free Wi-Fi can be a welcome sight when you're on the road, but it can also be dangerous. You don't know who else is using that Wi-Fi. A hacker active on the connection can easily steal your data if you're not properly protected.

It's best to either use your cell phone company's connection or a virtual private network (VPN) app. VPN plans are inexpensive and will keep your data encrypted, even if you're on public Wi-Fi.

6. Check your backup

Unfortunately, accidents can happen while traveling. You could leave your phone on a boat, lose your luggage, or have your device stolen in a busy area.

10% of all laptop thefts occur at airports. Don't lose all your data along with your device! Back up your devices to the cloud or local storage before traveling. This ensures you won't lose valuable information on your device. You won't have to think twice before activating a remote "wipe my device" command if necessary.  

7. Check your device security

Secure your devices as much as possible before hitting the road. When we travel, our minds are occupied with other things. So, you might not think to check your antivirus or avoid suspicious phishing links.  

Protect your devices before you leave by using:  

• Antivirus/anti-malware
• DNS Filtering
• Screen lock with password  
• Sharing features disabled
• VPN App
• Find My Device feature enabled

8. Double-check your checks

What do we mean by double-checking your devices? We mean using the buddy system as a backup. When the family gets off a plane, everyone should check with each other to make sure they have all their devices.  

If you're traveling alone, ask a friend or family member to check via text. Have you retrieved your charger? Is your VPN enabled?  

These little reminders can go a long way in avoiding digital travel nightmares.  

Improve your device security now

Don't leave your devices unprotected. This could result in the theft of your personal data or banking app. Contact us for device security solutions to reduce your risks.  

About Nexxo

Nexxo Computer Solutions specializes in providing IT and technology services to Quebec businesses. Its mission is to offer Quebec companies IT services tailored to their needs. Acting as an external IT department, it handles all of a company's IT tasks, allowing it to focus on its business activities. It achieves this by collaborating closely with its clients and putting their interests at the center of its concerns.