Tips to Keep Yourself Safe and Valuables Secure at a Resort
What do you do when you find out that a bug in Java gives malicious sites access to your computer? The right fix would be to disable Java in your browser.
A hacker showed that over four million keycard locks of hotel rooms across the globe could be opened in seconds without much effort. He demonstrated that a homemade digital device that costs less than $50 could easily open the locks.
So…
You need to stay safe at hotels and resorts using similar technology that hackers can easily manipulate to gain access into your room. Resorts should work on bugs and flaws in their security systems to keep hackers from gaining unauthorized access.
Onity, the manufacturer of the keycard locks, charges its hotel and resort customers for replacement hardware they need to completely fix the existing vulnerability.
Another hotel in Houston experienced a series of attacks that involved an array of break-ins into rooms to steal guests’ valuables. The attackers used the lock-opening device to gain entry into the rooms.
Therefore, when staying at a luxury resort or hotel, the need to protect yourself and belongings go without saying. Whether doors at the resort use the infamous Onity locks or not, here’re a few tips to help you stay safe and secure your valuables:
- Select a secure location over amenities
Find out what the security landscape in your travel destination is like before booking your resort or hotel room. Your travel assistance provider, the U.S. Department of State, provides information on safe travels in different geographical locations.
Get trustworthy information on how to go about improving your security at resorts and hotels. An expert security officer at your place of work can help you with this kind of information.
Where’s the nearest U.S. embassy or police station to report an attack? In addition to available amenities and room rates, choosing a resort in the right location ensures can help you prevent potential security and safety risks.
Explore your resort surroundings or environment to familiarize yourself with it. How far is it from the airport? Schedule flights bound to arrive during the day, especially if you’re a woman or traveling with kids.
Begin your search on Google Maps to explore the resort and its surroundings. This is to give you an idea of the local parks, business meetings, shops, attraction sites, and restaurants in relation to your resort.
Knowledge of the resort’s location gives you more confidence, which in turn reduces chances of getting robbed.
- Internet security
You’ll feel safer in your resort or hotel room than in a public place or lobby. However, your internet at the resort, just like those at coffee shops or the airport, is likely to be insecure.
Public wireless internet hotspots are usually vulnerable to attacks. Your computer firewall can protect you from likely risks typical of public networks. However, you may need added security to protect your personal information such as transaction details.
Find a reliable identity theft protection service to offer you superb assistance and protection when accessing the internet from the resort’s Wi-Fi network. With experience using various services, you would agree that LifeLock is among the best tools for internet safety when on vacation.
- Leave your valuables at the front desk
If you must travel with your valuables, leave them at the front desk for better security. This is for the reason that a housekeeping staff at the resort is more likely to steal your stuff in the room than a lock hacker.
Instead of leaving or keeping your family heirloom or Rolex watch in your room, leave it at the front desk. Consider all hotels and resorts insecure to reduce the risk of losing your valuables.
- Use the door chain or bolt when in your room
Most doors in hotels and resorts have a latching bolt on the inside for reinforcement purposes. Use the chain or bolt whenever you’re in your room. This ensures that even if Onity’s locks are broken when you’re inside your room, the door still remains closed.
However, there’s need for additional security and safety measures when using the latching bolt. This helps if Brocious’ hacking tool is used to open both the keycard lock and latching bolt.
- Use the safe in your room
Some hotels and resorts have built-in safes you can use to keep your valuables. Locked safes would prove handy when you’re in your room or not. Potential thieves are likely to move to other rooms, leaving your valuables intact in the safe.
- Create a backup plan
Disasters always strike and theft happen when you least expect them. So, prepare for the worst that can happen with a backup plan for recovery purposes.
Make copies of all your travel documents and leave them with a friend or family member before travel. You can also scan the documents and save them in a password-protected or an encrypted folder in the cloud.
Another good backup plan is to insure your valuables to ensure you’re compensated in case you lose them. Knowledge of the various ways hackers can attack you when traveling is key to keeping yourself and valuables safe and secure both inside and outside the resort.
