NCIX Mobile Security Tips for Overseas Travel

The Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive (ONCIX) has prepared a mobile security booklet for US citizens who travel abroad. The booklet offers advice for traveling with mobile phones, laptops, PDAs and other mobile devices.

The document, which appears to be a revised subset of their more popular “Be Alert!” document to avoid being a victim of foreign intelligence collection, breaks up the information into four sections: “You Should Know,” “Before You Travel,” “While You’re Away,” and “When You Return.” The first section is really a series of “worst case” scenarios involving travel abroad; monitored phone calls, searched hotel rooms, intercepted messages, tracked movements, etc. However, the other sections provide valuable tips that all travelers should consider.

Some of the tips include:

• Delete any information you don’t need before you go
• Use a different mobile phone when traveling, if you can
• Create strong passwords for your devices, and change them regularly (including when you return). Don’t store the passwords anywhere.
• Make sure you have all the latest security updates for your software
• Encrypt sensitive information* & have a personal firewall
  *Some countries may not allow you to enter with encrypted information, it notes
• Keep your SIM card with you if you need to stow your device
• Avoid wi-fi networks and turn off ports and features you don’t need

You can download the 2-page brochure here. [PDF]

Via Security Watch ; Tags: ncix, oncix, overseas travel, mobile security, security, it security, business security, business travel