Keeping Your Information Safe and Secure at the Beijing Olympics

By Kannan Velayutham, Consultant, Enterprise Security
Symantec Corporation (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd

With the 2008 Olympics just around the corner, there will be an influx of foreign and domestic travelers as well as press making their way into Beijing within these few weeks to witness the Games. The majority of these travelers are likely to bring a laptop, PDA or mobile device for work purposes, or log on at a cyber café to check in on events happening back home. However, safety should remain top of mind when traveling in a foreign country. The following are the top 5 security best practices to keep in mind while traveling to ensure your information is safe and secure:

1. Physical security – Avoid leaving your laptop out in the open in your hotel room, and use the hotel room safe or the main hotel safe to secure your laptop if you are going to leave your room for an extended period of time. Remove sensitive data and/or password protect or encrypt the data where possible, and always back up your data.

2. Patch updates – If you are on a working holiday, you are probably checking in regularly with your office. Take an extra few minutes to download updates and up to date patches for all the critical software applications on your laptop. This includes the core operating system as well as third party applications running on your laptop. This helps to minimize threats to your system.

3. Encryption— Encrypt all corporate or personal devices holding sensitive data, and use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for your connections where possible. This includes laptops, PDAs, flash drives and any personal storage devices that can hold sensitive data. Using a privacy screen while you are on the plane can also help keep your information secure.

4. Run security software— Always run a comprehensive Internet security software suite that is up to date. This is especially important when you need to connect to the Internet in unfamiliar locations, as the network may not be completely secure.

5. Surf safe! – Be careful of where you surf the Web, and exercise caution when using machines at the local cyber café or internet kiosks, as they could contain malware. Never use these machines to connect to a website that requires you to type your password or any other sensitive information. If you are using your own machine at an Internet café, be sure that any sensitive information you enter into it is encrypted – either by using VPN or by ensuring that you are communicating over SSL.

Although the Internet is a valuable tool in today’s world, it is important to understand the associated IT security risks of increased dependence and interdependence on technology. By taking these simple steps and exercising common sense, the Olympic Games can be enjoyed with a peace of mind and full confidence that your information is safe and secure.