It is difficult to manage without your computer, tablet and phone and therefore we often bring 2-3 devices on a trip. We all need access to our documents and data more than ever before when we are abroad on a business trip.
Therefore, it is important that you also include your digital security in your risk assessment when planning a trip. Digital threats, by their very nature, rarely recognize national borders, but once you're on your way, you're more exposed than usual.
Both when home and away, we face an increasing threat from cybercrime. The masterminds behind cybercrime are gaining access to ever greater resources, while their methods are becoming ever more sophisticated. In addition, political and economic cyber-espionage can be a relevant threat for someone, and new phenomena such as cyber-harassment and cyber-terrorism have appeared (however, the threat from the latter is assessed as not present in Denmark by the Center for Cyber Security at the Defense Intelligence Service).
Phishing attacks primarily use psychological vulnerabilities to achieve their goals. Part of the defense against them is therefore also a resilience against the stress, which they use, among other things, to bypass our common sense, and which can be more acute when traveling in remote areas. Travel&Risk consider stress management to be an important subject in almost any travel safety training.
Typically, both your computer, your phone and your online profiles are protected by passwords. Although the number has fallen from more than half in 2015, 38 percent of the Danish population still use the same password on several online services, according to a study by Statistics Denmark in 2022. Do you?
Did you know that there are huge databases on the web with billions of passwords from hacked online services? So if you've used your favorite password on a platform that's been hacked, it's probably in an online database accessible to cybercriminals. You can check son the website https://haveibeenpwned.com whether your password might be part of a leak.
We often use so many services today that it is impossible to remember separate passwords for everything. That is why it is smart to use a password manager. It is a simple program that stores individual passwords for each service you use, while you yourself only must remember a single password, namely the one for your password manager, which stores your passwords safely and encrypted, so that you do not have to remember everything.
In many countries, authorities now have the power to inspect your digital devices when you cross the border. The purpose is to protect national security, prevent smuggling, or identify illegal content. Unlike domestic searches, border checks often require less legal justification, allowing authorities to review photos, messages, and app data without a warrant. Inspections of your equipment can often be carried out without reasonable suspicion.
For professionals with confidential data or journalists protecting their sources, this situation is particularly concerning. Although most countries have guidelines, the details vary greatly, creating a complex landscape for international travelers.
How to prevent your data from being compromised by border authorities:
Individual needs and risks will always vary, but we have compiled a checklist with the most essential, universal tips for what you should do before, during, and after your trip:
Before travel:
During travel:
After returning home:
At minimum, you should:
