Cyber safety for travellers'

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Today's travellers often rely on free WiFi internet in places like airports to get the job done while on the move, but it can also be a hotbed for cyber crimes such as hacking. PC security boffin AVG has released its list of tips for keeping your laptop secure while travelling:

* Ensure your PC is up to date with robust anti-virus or internet security software that includes a real-time web scanner, firewall and email protection.

* Clean your devices of spyware and malware before every trip and periodically do so during the visit. This will reduce the risks of attacks in unsecure zones.

* Ensure the security settings (including firewall) are on maximum prevention.

* Be very careful what information you share in public locations. Even logins to web email accounts can give hackers access to your more important data, especially if you use the same or similar password for all your online accounts.

* Turn off shared folders. If you unwittingly connect to a malicious network, a cyber criminal could easily transfer a malicious spyware agent on to your machine that could follow you and track your online activities even after you leave the public location.

* When at hotels, airports or restaurants make sure you use secure connections.

* While travelling avoid logging on to any financial websites, or making credit card transactions online, especially in WiFi zones.

* Ensure your laptop and PDA is protected using hard drive password locking systems. Another good idea is to enable screensaver passwords.

* Create back-ups of all the work and personal data on your devices before you depart and keep it in a secure place.

* Be careful about revealing detailed travel plans on social networking sites as thieves have been known to follow status updates, and break into homes while they know the owners are away.