Visiting China is an amazing experience with so many different things to see and explore. But the same experience also has its dark side — namely, the fact that you should take extra care of your data.
The Chinese government has a not-that-great track record of sponsoring numerous cyber espionage campaigns, and like that’s not enough — there are many individuals in this vast country that are just looking for foreign suckers to exploit their data for monetary gain.
This, however, shouldn’t deter anyone from visiting China; there is so much to see and the little extra effort you need to put into preparation is well worth your time. Or so we think.
That being said, here are 5 basic data security tips for your next trip to the world’s most populous country:
1. Get a VPN
First and foremost, you will need a good VPN in order to be able to bypass the so-called Great Firewall of China that will not only allow you to keep up with your favorite TV shows and movies on Netflix (and other streaming sites) and read real news (as opposed to those filtered by the authorities); but also to access such services as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Dropbox and Skype.
You see, the government of China has been blocking access to parts of the Internet for quite some time, limiting what you can read, watch and listen while in the country. The majority of the local population doesn’t mind these limitations, but those traveling to China would like to keep access to their favorite sites and services. To make that possible, you will need a good VPN that can bypass the tech-savvy censors.
In other words, not every VPN is up for the task, and we have prepared a special list of services that have been proven to work in China. Make sure to check it out and get yourself one of the VPNs from that list before your next trip to Beijing or wherever you plan to go.
2. Try not to access sensitive accounts
As you may have figured out, the government of China is spying on its citizens and even more on those visiting the country. If you can, avoid accessing any sensitive accounts such as your online banking and other accounts related to your finances.
Or, if that’s not an option — you really have to do that — make sure your VPN app is turned on, and only then access the account you need.
Even before that, you should use strong, unique passwords for both your sensitive accounts and your VPN app. This is part of the work you have to do before boarding the plane.
3. Don’t connect on public Wi-Fi hotspots
Again, if you have to do that, first fire-up your VPN app and only then use a web browser. This, BTW, should be a general rule, not just for China — but everywhere. Public Wi-Fi hotspots are ideal places for hackers who could sneak into other people’s web traffic and potentially cause harm.
I am not saying that China is a more dangerous place than other parts of the world — in fact, it is one of the most secure places on the planet — it’s just that its Internet-related practices are sort of fishy.
4. Carry only devices you need
Say you have multiple computers, do you really need to carry all of them to China?
Arguably, you are there for business or pleasure to see the Forbidden City and other incredible sights the country has to offer — or both. So, you won’t have too much time to play with all your gadgets, or at least that’s my thinking.
Fewer gadgets mean fewer security issues to deal with. And that’s the point — it is much easier to take care of one computer rather than two. And the same goes for multiple phones, tablets and any other gear you may have.
This is especially important if you’re traveling for work. In fact, many companies will not let you go to China with your work laptop or phone, and will rather lend you special travel laptops and phones. These devices provide you with the bare minimum you need to do your work and then to be wiped clean once you return (so they could be lent to another person afterward).
5. Watch your devices at all times
You brought your devices to China, now’s the time to take good care of them. This means you should ensure their physical security by keeping them with you or at least in your sight at all times. No plugging of your smartphone into a public charging station! Also, if you need to put some USB drive into your computer, make sure your anti-virus is turned on — you don’t want to see some unknown software being installed on your computer, after all. Heck, if you are very concerned, you can wipe your device once you are back home.
Again, this advice is applicable to many countries around the world, not just China. It’s what we would consider a general rule of securing our devices.
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In a nutshell – get a VPN, travel light and enjoy your time in China. I’m sure you’ll love it. 😉