Being in the great outdoors doesn’t mean being off the grid. Sharing photos of camping trips or downloading maps while backpacking is now possible, thanks to public Wi-Fi and mobile data plans.
When you consider the dangers of staying outdoors, you may think about hiding your food from bears, not your data from hackers. However, staying online while out and about also requires some basic digital safety practices.
Before discussing precautions, let’s see the digital dangers you need protection from:
So how do you prevent all these common risks and stay safe on your trip? Here are some tips:
To prevent damage if your phone falls into the wrong hands, use a PIN, password, or biometric lock. That way, if your device is lost or stolen, no one can access the information on it. Additionally, enable Find My Phone services. Note down your device’s IMEI number and know how to wipe your device remotely if you can’t find it.
Outdoor Digital Safety Tips
Common risks
Before discussing precautions, let’s see the digital dangers you need protection from:
- Public Wi-Fi: Many camp grounds and trailheads offer Wi-Fi. And yes, it’s convenient, but a public Wi-Fi network can also be a massive security risk. Free networks are open to everyone. Anyone with the right tools can snoop on your internet traffic and steal sensitive information.
- Geotagged photos: Your phone tags your photos with location data about where they were taken. Every time you post a photo, that location data is shared with the website or app, allowing them to track your whereabouts. Thanks to AI, it’s also easy to discover the exact place by analysing the picture. This information can let people know you’re not at home or that your hotel or campsite is unattended.
- Oversharing routes: When you’re hiking, you should let people know where you are. And it’s fun to share your camping trips with friends. But sharing your location too openly online can reveal your routine, letting strangers know where to find you.
- App settings: By default, many apps collect location information, run in the background, or automatically download updates, which can eat into your data allowance and drain your battery.
- Damage to phones: When you are out enjoying the wilderness, losing track of your device is easy. Phones can get damaged, lost, or fall into the wrong hands.
Easy fixes that work
So how do you prevent all these common risks and stay safe on your trip? Here are some tips:
1. Secure your phone before your trip!
To prevent damage if your phone falls into the wrong hands, use a PIN, password, or biometric lock. That way, if your device is lost or stolen, no one can access the information on it. Additionally, enable Find My Phone services. Note down your device’s IMEI number and know how to wipe your device remotely if you can’t find it.
Don’t forget to update your device and apps before you go on your trip. Software updates often patch existing vulnerabilities so hackers can’t exploit them in outdated systems.
You can download maps, transit schedules, and entrance tickets to your phone or other device. That way, if mobile data doesn’t work and there’s no Wi-Fi, you can still access them.
Review the permissions of the software on your phone or tablet. Only give apps access to the data they actually need. Check which apps have microphone or camera access and ask yourself whether they actually need it. Disable location access for games, shopping apps, and other unnecessary programs.
If you want to stay connected, especially when travelling abroad, there are options beyond campsite Wi-Fi. An eSIM, such as Saily or Holafly, gives you a flexible way to stay connected without accessing public Wi-Fi. That way, you can call home, check trail conditions, or post to social media.
2. Download essentials!
You can download maps, transit schedules, and entrance tickets to your phone or other device. That way, if mobile data doesn’t work and there’s no Wi-Fi, you can still access them.
3. Check app permissions!
Review the permissions of the software on your phone or tablet. Only give apps access to the data they actually need. Check which apps have microphone or camera access and ask yourself whether they actually need it. Disable location access for games, shopping apps, and other unnecessary programs.
4. Consider how you stay connected!
If you want to stay connected, especially when travelling abroad, there are options beyond campsite Wi-Fi. An eSIM, such as Saily or Holafly, gives you a flexible way to stay connected without accessing public Wi-Fi. That way, you can call home, check trail conditions, or post to social media.
These electronic SIM cards can be downloaded before your trip and give you internet access everywhere you can get a cell phone signal.
Only share your location with people you trust. You can use timed sharing features that will expire after your trip. You can share while you’re out and about, then return to privacy once you are at home.
It’s easy for someone to put a sticker of a QR code over an existing one, for example, on a camp ground bulletin board or a trailhead information sign. Where possible, manually type in the URL so you don’t get taken to a phishing site.
The outdoors can be hard on your hardware. Extreme temperatures cause batteries to drain faster. Keep your phone protected in an inside pocket when it’s cold, and avoid leaving it in direct sunlight when it’s hot. It’s also a good idea to carry a portable power bank to charge wherever you are.
Travelling anywhere comes with risks as well as opportunities. However, you can minimise those risks by practising good physical and digital safety habits when you travel.
5. Restrict location sharing!
Only share your location with people you trust. You can use timed sharing features that will expire after your trip. You can share while you’re out and about, then return to privacy once you are at home.
6. Be careful with QR codes!
It’s easy for someone to put a sticker of a QR code over an existing one, for example, on a camp ground bulletin board or a trailhead information sign. Where possible, manually type in the URL so you don’t get taken to a phishing site.
7. Protect your battery!
The outdoors can be hard on your hardware. Extreme temperatures cause batteries to drain faster. Keep your phone protected in an inside pocket when it’s cold, and avoid leaving it in direct sunlight when it’s hot. It’s also a good idea to carry a portable power bank to charge wherever you are.
Wrap Up: Staying Safe Online in the Great Outdoors
Travelling anywhere comes with risks as well as opportunities. However, you can minimise those risks by practising good physical and digital safety habits when you travel.
