/ upgrade /
How to Play Digital Defense
Traveling with your laptop? Keep hackers at bay with these expert security strategies. Update your software.
i
Carry a tamperresistant bag.
Hard Graft’s leather Flat Pack (hardgraft. com; US$325) is a
discreet, goodlooking satchel with the zipper on the back, against your body and away from invasive hands.
One of the easiest ways to hack into a computer is by taking advantage of software weaknesses, says Edward Yakabovicz, cybers ecurity architect at (ISC)2 security. Upgrades patch those holes, so make sure everything on your machine—including the operating system—is the very latest edition.
Set a (strong) password.
Jamie Tomasello, technology director at digital rights group Access Now, says the code should be at least 12 characters long, and suggests using four random words strung together.
Enable full-disk encryption.
This extra protection is important if there’s sensitive data on your computer, Tomasello
says. It ensures that any files pulled off it will be unreadable without the encryption password. Mac users can activate File Vault 2; Microsoft BitLocker is available on many Windows machines.
Stay off public Wi-Fi.
Open networks are an attacker’s dream. Michal Nemcok, marketing manager at digital forensics firm Lifars, suggests
using your phone as a secure hot spot. If you’re a heavy user or have iffy coverage, consider a gadget like the Karma Go (yourkarma.com); once you’ve bought the US$149 device, you get 5GB of LTE coverage for US$40 a month.
Travel light.
Leave most of your digital files at home, if possible. — malena carollo
CHARITY CASES
ROUTE IT Right
Before you leave the check-in counter, examine your baggage-claim stub to make sure the final destination is correct— especially if you have a connecting flight.
— Lindsey Ol ander
64
june 2016 / t r av el andleisure asia .com
TR AILBLA ZER
The Brainiac
The new Raden bag (raden.com; US$295-$395) combines tech smarts with sleek design. Its battery charges a mobile phone four times over and can be taken out and used on its own; a built-in scale lets you check your bag’s weight; and an accompanying app provides weather conditions, TSA wait times and traffic alerts. It comes in seven colors, including eye-catching lavender and light blue (shown).
I n s e t: c o u r t e s y o f h a r d g r a f t
To help kids in foster care who have to carry their belongings in trash bags, donate duffels and backpacks to charitable organizations like Bags 4 Kids (bags4kids.com) and Help Our Kids (helpour kidsinc.org). Give rolling luggage to Partners In Development (pidonline.org) or Healing the Children Northeast (htcne. org). Your bag will be used to transport clothes and medicine to developing countries.