Smart Summer Travel: Protecting Your Mobile Devices

Author - Morten Peachey 

For high profile and high value individuals, travel is often defined by comfort, privacy, and exclusivity - from luxury accommodation to truly unique experiences. However, within these sophisticated environments lies an often-overlooked risk: mobile device security. As smartphones increasingly serve as the hub for both personal and professional activity, they become prime targets for cyber threats and physical theft - particularly during international travel. From unsecured networks to opportunistic theft, the associated risks can be both unexpected and far-reaching for individuals and their families. 

In this article, we explore the most pressing mobile device security risks you may face while travelling this summer, as well as precautionary measures to minimise the risk.  

1. The Invisible Threat of Public Wi-Fi 

It’s natural to assume that the Wi-Fi in a five-star hotel or a VIP airport lounge is safe. After all, you’re surrounded by other affluent travellers and professionals.  Unfortunately, all public Wi-Fi - no matter the location – is a common gateway for sophisticated cybercriminals. With similar setups to any high street coffee shop, a public network in an exclusive location is potentially more valuable to attackers with larger returns in play. 

These attackers use techniques like meddler-in-the-middle attacks, where they intercept data between your device and the internet, or create “evil twin” networks that mimic legitimate Wi-Fi hotspots. Once connected, they can monitor your online activity, harvest passwords, or even gain access to encrypted communications and financial data. 

The only way to fully protect yourself from attacks on public Wi-Fi networks is simply to not use them. But given that in most cases using public Wi-Fi while on-the-go is unavoidable, consideration should be given about what you are sharing over them. Basic protections need to be in place including managing your known networks and using a VPN.  When travelling, remember that not all countries have the same proactive cyber hygiene as the UK.   

2. The Cost of a Lost or Stolen Device 

Luxury travel often includes transit between high-traffic destinations - Paris one day, Dubai the next. In the chaos of airports, restaurants, and chauffeured cars, it’s all too easy for a device to be lost or stolen. But when your phone is more than a communications tool - when it holds access to investment portfolios, legal documents, family communications, and business credentials - the consequences go far beyond inconvenience. 

Given that a lost or stolen device is likely gone forever, it is crucial to be prepared to respond to such incidents and take steps to minimise the likelihood and impact of theft.  Taking proactive precautions can reduce the impact of such compromises for you and your family’s devices and can be as simple as enabling the Find My Device functionality. 

If your mobile device is lost or stolen, immediately put it in Lost Mode to lock it from a connected device. Most mobile device vendors do not require you to log in from a trusted device to mark it as lost. Even if someone has your device password, with Stolen Device Protection enabled, Face ID or Touch ID is required to turn off  Lost Mode for iPhones.   

3. Sharing and Location-Based Tagging 

Posting a picturesque sunset from your villa or tagging yourself at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Monaco may seem harmless. But for cybercriminals these posts are like gold. Location-tagged content can reveal where you are, where you’re staying, and crucially, where you are not.  

Cyberstalkers and organised criminals often track high-profile individuals through their digital footprint, especially during travel when security habits may be relaxed. Smart strategies to minimise risk include disabling location tagging on social media platforms and asking family members and staff to delay posting trip photos until after your return. 

4. Malicious Charging Stations 

You’re in an airport lounge or a hotel lobby, and your phone battery is low. A sleek USB charging station is nearby. You quickly grab ten minutes of charging to tide you over, what could go wrong? 

Public charging ports, even in exclusive venues, can be compromised with hidden hardware designed to install malware or extract data directly from your devices. This practice - known as “juice jacking” - is especially dangerous for HNWIs whose phones are likely to contain access to banking apps, critical business information, or legal communications. 

While this is currently very rare, avoid this trap by using data-blocking USB cables or charging only through traditional power outlets when available.  

5. Awareness of the Geopolitical Climate 

In the current global climate, be aware that what you post online can impact your journey. We have seen instances of social media posts criticising political administrations coming to a head when travelling to certain countries resulting in difficult conversations at immigration desks. Be mindful of this when travelling, lock down social media posts where possible and limit the information available about you.  

Global Defence in Depth 

Incorporating a few basic precautions can start to strengthen your overall risk profile but for comprehensive protections, proactive device protection is key. coc00n's unique mobile device protection secures phones, tablets and laptops against cyber attacks without any restriction on usability. 

We use geopolitical intelligence to help inform guidance to high-risk countries, something that is very fluid and changes regularly. Combined with our Cyber Concierge service, coc00n delivers proactive, unrivalled cyber security with absolute discretion and privacy wherever your holiday may take you.  

About the author 

Morten Peachey is coc00n’s Chief Information Security Officer. He spent nearly 10 years working for the UK's National Cyber Security Centre working on Zero Trust Architecture principles and facilitating secure working in high threat locations.