I travel a fair amount for my work and that wouldn’t be so bad except I’m a security professional that travels for work. I consistently see other business travelers do the same or similar security missteps over and over. I thought it might be a good idea to review my top 5 security missteps or, as I like to call them, “Moron Alerts”. This may seem like a very strong term I use, but consider that many of us have been through security awareness training at our respective companies and yet we still do these bad things. With news reports on an almost daily basis about laptops, mobile devices and/or information being stolen, it’s just very difficult to believe that people, especially business travelers, are still making these bad mistakes consistently.
1. Laptop unattended in bathroom entrance
Solution: Put your laptop in your briefcase and just bring your briefcase into the bathroom with you. It’s not that hard. If you can’t fit the laptop into the briefcase then get an appropriately sized briefcase so you can.
2. Devices unattended at coffee shop
I see this one almost all the time. Sit at Starbucks (or other coffee shop/restaurant) working on your laptop and then either get back in line for more coffee or go to the bathroom leaving the laptop, mobile devices and/or briefcase open and unattended. What’s interesting is a behavioral need to mark our territories to let people know we’re sitting there. People are more inclined to leave valuable items in this fashion and in this case the seat at the table is the most valuable item to risk losing as opposed to the laptop, mobile device and/or briefcase.
Solution:The seat is not that important in the long run.Just pack the stuff up and take it with you. The good news is that another seat will likely come available sooner than you think.
3. Briefcase unattended in the bathroom entrance
Solution: Just bring your briefcase into the bathroom with you. It’s not that hard.
4. Mobile devices unattended at power kiosk
Solution: Find outlets closer to your seat or find a seat closer to the outlets. Seems simple, but there are airports that don’t make this easy. Just keep your devices close to you.
5. Visible confidential or sensitive information
Solution:Ensure there’s no one behind you while working on your laptop or mobile device and/or use a screen filter to protect from directview and access to information.
What’s your top 5 Moron Alert?