Christmas travel keeping your devices safe

Christmas means busy airports, packed trains and a lot of borrowed Wi-Fi. A little prep now saves a lot of hassle later.

Before you leave

Back up your phone and laptop. Update everything. Make sure Find My Device is switched on for both.

Write down how to contact your bank if a card goes missing.

Free Wi-Fi in busy places is a favourite for fake networks. Check the name with the airport signs and connect your VPN before logging in to anything.

Keep your laptop in your bag rather than on the seat next to you.

Relatives often have old routers and simple passwords. It is not a big risk for a few days but it is worth using your VPN for anything important.

And yes, you will probably end up fixing their Wi-Fi too.

Is airport Wi-Fi safe?

It is shared with thousands of people and easy to copy. Check the network name and use a VPN for anything that matters.

Do I need a VPN at a relative house?

It is a lower risk than public Wi-Fi, but a VPN is still sensible for banking and work.

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