If you’re like most business owners, you haven’t taken any precautions because the worst hasn’t happened yet. Bad move.
Nothing ruins a business trip like a run-in with a pickpocket, a dash of political turmoil, or the onset of a crippling illness. Seasoned business travelers know the drill: Safeguard your valuables, get your vaccinations, and register with your country’s local embassy. So why do so many obsess over these precautions but ignore the biggest threat of all?
Traveling greatly increases vulnerability to identity theft, phishing, sidejacking, and online fraud. Think about it: You’re charging devices at airports, hotels, convention centres, and coffee shops; connecting to open networks; and using shared computers at client sites and elsewhere. You put your passwords, financial data, business transactions, and browsing history out there for the taking.
Oh, and by the way, identity fraud rose 13 percent in 2011, affecting more than 11.6 million adults in the U.S. alone. That’s nearly 4 percent of the entire U.S. population.
Now more than ever it’s important to be as protective of your virtual identities and data as you are with your physical belongings and welfare. Here’s a checklist for you (and employees) to follow to minimise risk:
To read this article in full, visit leading US small business resource Inc.
