12 Cyber Tips for a Safe Holiday

The holidays are a time for travel, family, and celebrating—but they’re also peak season for cyber threats. From unsecured public Wi-Fi to smart-home vulnerabilities, attackers take advantage of busy schedules and distract travelers. Whether you’re preparing your home for vacation or heading across the country, here are twelve essential cybersecurity tips to keep your data, devices, and digital life safe this holiday season.

1. Use Smart Plugs to Control Energy & Safety While Away-  Smart plugs allow you to remotely manage lights and appliances, giving the appearance that someone is home and helping conserve energy. Ensure they’re connected to a secure home network.

2. Secure Your Home Network with a Guest Wi-Fi –  Before hosting visitors, create a guest network for friends and family. This keeps your main devices—computers, cameras, smart locks, and more—isolated from potentially unsecured phones or tablets.

3. Automate Your Home for Convenience & Security –  Set up smart devices to run on holiday routines, like turning on decorative lights or playing music at certain times. Automation adds convenience while making your home look occupied when you’re away.

4. Back Up Your Memories to Encrypted Cloud Storage –   Don’t leave holiday photos on unsecured phones or SD cards. Upload them to an encrypted cloud service to ensure they’re safe even if your device is lost or stolen.

5. Power Down Devices Before Traveling –  Always fully shut down laptops, tablets, and streaming devices when packing. Putting them to sleep still leaves data cached and are vulnerable.

6. Use Trusted Charging Methods Only –  Avoid unknown public charging stations. Pack original power adapters and, if needed, use a USB data blocker to prevent malware or data theft.

7. Avoid Public Wi-Fi—Use a Hotspot Instead –  Public networks are prime targets for attackers. Use your mobile hotspot or a trusted VPN if you must connect to an unfamiliar network.

8. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Everywhere –  Turn on MFA for travel apps, banking, email, and social platforms. Even if passwords are compromised, MFA adds essential protection.

9. Review Your App Privacy Settings- Before you start posting holiday content, check who can see your photos, location tags, and stories. Restrict visibility to trusted friends and disable location-sharing features.

10. Update All Devices Before You Leave – Install the latest software updates on phones, tablets, laptops, and smart-home devices. Updates often patch critical vulnerabilities.

11. Keep Your Travel Itinerary Off social media – Avoid sharing real-time travel details publicly—it broadcasts to attackers that your home is empty. Post your photos after your return.

12. Store Sensitive Documents Securely – If traveling with passports or IDs, keep digital copies in an encrypted cloud folder and lock physical documents in a hotel safe, not in your luggage.

Stay Safe, Stay Connected, and Enjoy the Holidays

With a few proactive cybersecurity practices, you can protect your home, your data, and your peace of mind all season long.

For more cybersecurity solutions for your business or home, contact Acordis Technology & Solutions—your trusted partner in IT security.