This holiday season, many of us will be taking trips to visit family. Whether we are taking a couple of hour drive or a cross-country flight, our focus on the trip can often mean that we leave our guards down. This can lead us to be vulnerable to predators looking to steal our personal information. Here are a couple of tips to keep you safe during your holiday travel.
Don’t be a target
First, your baggage or even your vehicle can make you a target. Carrying a laptop bag tells anyone watching that you are carrying expensive equipment with the possibility of saved personal information. If you set it down, anyone can easily pick it up by just walking by. Did you know that even driving an SUV can send signals to people looking to take things? The openness of the SUV and the lack of a trunk to hide baggage makes it easy for people to see what’s inside and leads them to being highly susceptible to auto-burglary. Even when we are traveling short distances, Beth will often hide her purse in the trunk of our car so that people can’t see it. If we take the van, she might even hide it inside or under a shopping bag in the back. Sometimes it helps to have a messy vehicle!! Any way you do it, just be careful not to look like a target during your holiday travel.
Watch your money
When you travel, make sure that you keep your money safe. Big wads of cash instantly get people’s attention. Additionally, people can tamper with point-of-sale machines, so using your debit card and entering your PIN can lead to some problems. Even though, to me, it seems a bit contrary for us trying to pay down our credit, your best bet when travelling is to use your credit card and hand it to the attendant to run. In this case, if someone does use your card without your permission, it is much easier to dispute the charges.
This December, LifeLock is partnering with an amazing new documentary called Waiting for Lightning. After working with LifeLock, we know that “identity is everything.” And professional skateboarder Danny Way found his identity by always challenging himself with the biggest (and most dangerous) goals.
To support the release of Waiting for Lightning on 13th at 10:30am PST, 1:30pm EST, @LifeLock is hosting a Twitter party! RSVP Here: http://bit.ly/DannyWayParty
Are you going anywhere this holiday season? How do you keep your personal information safe during your holiday travel?
For more tips, make sure to Follow LifeLock on Twitter, Like LifeLock on FaceBook, and play the LifeLock for Life Sweepstakes.
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