It is no secret that travel can be the perfect tonic if you want to blow the cobwebs away and recharge your batteries. However, even though you are taking a break, it does not mean that you can switch off completely.
After all, regardless of where you are heading, you still need to consider some basics when it comes to safety and security. For instance, you might want to use a padlock on luggage or keep items of value close at hand. But, in more recent years, another issue has definitely risen up the agenda – cybersecurity.
Part of modern travel
Digital services are a core part of the modern travel experience, as we use online portals to book breaks and also turn to apps for support and assistance during trips. As such, it is hugely important to follow best practices when it comes to being safe and secure.
Cybersecurity can cover a range of bases, from network security to the threat of viruses and malware. Another important issue is password strength and an infographic from ExpressVPN recently revealed how this was a hot topic across the world. It highlighted common passwords used from country to country, with ‘juventus’ being popular in Italy and Germans apparently opting for ‘passwort’.
The site also outlined how to create a strong password and it urged people to make them longer – ideally 12 to 15 characters. It added that a good password would be random and unique. The latter means you should aim to use a different password for every online account.
Source: Pixabay
Cybersecurity rankings
So, if you are planning a break and expect to spend at least some of your time online, it is well worth considering security issues. However, this does raise one key question – which countries are the best and worst when it comes to cybersecurity?
This is obviously a big question, but a study by ESET has provided some hints, as reported in this article by Cyber Magazine, at the state of play across Europe. Last year, the organisation’s European Cybersecurity Index examined 24 countries and gave them a score out of ten based on a range of factors. Anyone planning a trip to Portugal will be interested to hear that the country came top with a rating of 8.21, while Lithuania and Slovakia followed closely behind. The top five were completed by some classic European holiday destinations, with Greece coming fourth and Spain being ranked fifth.
At the other end of the spectrum, the bottom three featured France, Austria and Romania. Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland were also in lower positions, while the UK was positioned 17th.
Remember the basics
Back in 2017, research by Aviva revealed that many young holidaymakers see free wi-fi as a key issue when choosing holiday accommodation, more so than pricing. Such findings highlight just how keen we are to be able to use our smartphones and other devices while on a break.
However, it is important to remember that the key basics of safety and security still apply even when you are on holiday. Failing to consider such issues could have major consequences on your break and beyond.
