Essential Solutions For Safe Online Banking While Traveling
The only paper money you should have with you while traveling is the emergency cash secured in your money belt. The rest is your bank app. This way, your money is safe, supposedly. Well, just as a pocket picker might steal your cash, a hacker can steal the money in your account. The key to […]
Table of Contents
Protect your online privacy and security
Fast, private, and easy to use, get Hidzo on your device and browse freely with one tap.
Get HidzoVPN
The only paper money you should have with you while traveling is the emergency cash secured in your money belt. The rest is your bank app. This way, your money is safe, supposedly. Well, just as a pocket picker might steal your cash, a hacker can steal the money in your account.
The key to a memorable trip is security awareness, particularly regarding banking apps and online shopping. For safe online banking while traveling, you should:
- Enable 2FA and ensure it works.
- Update apps to the latest version.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi for transferring funds.
- Use digital wallets for payments if supported.
- Have a backup physical card and some cash.
- Review your passwords and renew them when necessary.
- Use a VPN or mobile data to secure logins and transactions.
Before You Set Off
Before the trip, you’re on cloud nine, and some things are easy to overlook. Here’s what you might forget before your trip.
1. Update Apps
Head over to your phone’s app center (Play Store/App Store) and you’ll see how many apps are pending updates. Sometimes these updates are related to security issues and, therefore, critical. So, you should make sure you have the latest version of the banking, shopping, and transferring apps, your cell phone.
2. Review Your Passwords
The password managers on cell phones have made logins easy using biometric features, so easy that most of us don’t remember even important usernames and passwords. You must know essential passwords by heart, lest you need to log in from another device in case something happens to your cell phone. Also, check you’re cell phone password manager for compromised password alerts.
3. Enable 2FA
2FA is mandated by banks and credit card companies. If you’re using SMS 2FA, make sure you can receive texts in your travel destination. If you’re using a 2FA app like Google Authenticator, make sure the codes are backed up and saved on your Google Account.
4. Inform Your Bank
Due to security measures, you may not be able to access your bank account remotely from some countries. You should run this with your bank to avoid getting locked out of your account. Of course, depending on banking laws in your state, this might be unnecessary.
7 Tips for Safe Online Banking While Traveling
When a thief robs you in the real world, you go to the police, and they take care of this, hopefully. But when a hacker hacks into your device and empties your account, the follow-up isn’t as straightforward. So, the logical thing is to eliminate these digital threats altogether. How?
1. Avoid Public Wi-Fis
Public free Wi-Fis available in airports, shopping centers, cafes, etc. can be infected by malicious users. To a lesser extent, the same can be true about safety on hotel Wi-Fi. Unless the Wi-Fi is password-protected and the venue provides you with dedicated login info, your security on these networks is vulnerable to hacker attacks.
On a related note:
Internet Security for Travelers | 5 Tips to Keep Your Data Safe
2. Use a VPN
Having access to a fast and secure VPN service that actually works anywhere is a must-have on a traveling checklist. In your travel destination, you might lose access to your account or face restrictions in transferring funds. With a VPN app with servers in your home country, you can avoid these restrictions.
Among the many VPN apps available on Android and iOS, some, including NordVPN, ProtonVPN, ExpressVPN, and HidzoVPN, are the most secure and reliable ones. Among this shortlist, HidzoVPN wins the competition thanks to its affordable price.
HidzoVPN’s monthly premium plan is available for just $2.99 for a limited time. Other than online privacy protection and affordability, HidzoVPN Premium offers:
- Ad removal for productivity
- Unrestricted internet access
- Straightforward user interface
- Smart protocol for minimum latency
- Servers in 5+ locations around the world
3. Use Mobile Data
If your carrier provides internet coverage in your destination, you can enable roaming packages to benefit from a convenient and secure internet connection on your cellphone. If you want to insert payment information or check your bank statement on your laptop, it’s safer to connect to the personal hotspot on your mobile.
If your carrier doesn’t cover roaming in your destination, you can buy a local SIM card and purchase an internet plan for your stay. However, given the costs of roaming or buying a local SIM card with internet, using a trusted VPN is more logical and cost-effective.
4. Prioritize App Over Web Version
Banking or other transaction apps have built-in encryption systems that are enhanced by integrating 2FA. Web version, on the other hand, relies on HTTPS for security. Both are quite secure, but the apps are safer in the face of attacks from hackers. Of course, you should make sure that you have the latest update of the app.
5. Use Digital Wallets
Digital wallets like Google Wallet and Apple Pay make shopping easier, faster, and safer. These wallets feature contactless payment and prevent the exposure of card details. The only problem is that this payment method isn’t available everywhere. Therefore, you should check how you can pay for stuff beforehand.
6. Have a Plan B
For every vital aspect of your trip, you should have a plan B. Regarding your financial safety, you should have a physical backup card and some cash for emergencies.
If you use a credit card, it’s a good idea to set a cap for your account so that if someone stole, they wouldn’t be able to max it. Also, it helps you stay within your traveling budget.
7. Use Traveler’s Insurance
Some insurance companies cover items such as stolen cash, gadget cover, lost or damaged luggage, as well as medical and dental expenses. You should review their coverage and compensation conditions. If you’re carrying valuables with you, it’s reassuring to have an insurance company on your side.
Post Travel Review
When you think about it, your transaction records during the trip are like a photo album. This is the $200 you spent on dinner in that luxury Mediterranean restaurant with that funny waiter.
But other than reminding you of your trip memories, reviewing your transaction statements reveals any suspicious activities, like unauthorized login attempts on your account. Whether you found something or not, it’s just good sense to change your passwords once you’re back home.
Final Remarks
Traveling is a refreshing experience, and if something goes wrong…, well, let’s hope it doesn’t. The 4 + 7 tips in this blog post help you keep track of your spending and minimize the possibility of getting robbed. Just remember that while traveling abroad, having a good VPN on your cell phone is necessary for your privacy, security, and convenience.
Using banking apps on open or public Wi-Fis is fairly risky. If you want to use banking apps on airport Wi-Fi, you should use a VPN.
Strong passwords, 2-factor authentication, and a trusted VPN app can help you protect your financial data while traveling abroad.
