3 Simple Ways To Protect Your Credit Card When Booking Travel Arrangements Online
Booking flights, hotel reservations, and other travel arrangements online is generally a safe procedure. While most of the major booking websites, like Kayak and Orbitz take care to encrypt your credit card and other personal information when you book, there are a number of ways your credit card number can be misused after you click ‘Ok’.
Fortunately, using a number of free services and some ingenuity you can protect your personal information and keep your credit card number safe – without even giving it away when making online travel arrangements.
First, the Basics
Before you read further, if you’re not familiar with some basic online security tips, I’ve written some posts in the past to help you get started to browsing and booking safely online.
- Use your own computer or laptop if you can, but if you must use and Internet cafe, make sure you keep your online accounts safe.
- As Max recommends, check to see if the website you’re booking through uses a secure channel before booking. Look for the url to begin with httpS. (Almost all of the major booking companies do.)
- Avoid wireless connections and never use computer-to-computer networks. Hack your own wi-fi and use HotSpot Shield with Tor to protect your browsing.
3 Simple Steps
Now that you’re caught up with the basics, here are 3 simple ways to protect your credit card when booking that next flight.
1. Use A One-Time Credit Card Number – Most times your credit card number is safest online. It’s when that number gets sent to hotel staff, travel agents, or other agencies that it’s handled inappropriately – like being written down, as Darren notes . Many credit card companies, and Paypal, offer one-time-use credit card numbers that are only valid for a single online transaction and protect you from fraud. Give them a call to find out if the option is available to you or switch to bank that offers it.
- Here are some links to more information about one-time credit card number offerings.
How To Protect Your Home When You Travel
After reading Priyank’s encounter with a burglar in his home I began to think about how vulnerable our dwellings are, especially when we’re not in them. Travelers who will be gone for even a few days from their homes can take a few simple measures to protect them and deter thieves.
We take so many precautions to protect the things we travel with and you should do the same for all the things you leave behind.
- Install A Fake Security Camera - Most of the precautions you need to take are about deterrence since you won’t be able to stop a burglar once their inside. Install a fake security camera above each door to your home. Amazon sells a pretty convincing pair for about $20 each.
- Make A Sign For Your Home Monitoring Service - Print and laminate a lawn sign for name-your-own home monitoring service or replicate one by ADT, Brinks, or any well-known local name in your area. Study after study shows these are just as effective as the actual alarm systems for warding off crooks (who just move on to the next house).
- Used signs can also be found on eBay.
- Talk To Your Nosey Neighbors – We’ve all got that person on the block or in our apartment building that just has to know what everyone is up to. As annoying as they are, these people are great security resources. If they’re friendly ask them to keep an eye on your place and give your friend (someone who lives nearby) a ring if they see anything suspicious.
Why Making Hotel Terrorism Saftey Plans Are A Waste of Time
Spending the time to make a safety plan against terror during your next hotel stay is a complete waste of time. The statistics don’t support it, a single plan only protects you from a specific threat, and you’d need to be a damn good psychic in order to be successful.
I went ahead with a trip to India last week and stayed at the Oberoi hotel (one of the chains attacked in Mumbai) in Bangalore, despite the attacks. As tragic as those acts of terrorism were, there’s no need for you to spend time or worry over the possibility of a terrorist attack during your next hotel stay.
Dying In A Terrorist Attack Is Really, Very Rare
Losing your life because of a terrorist attack is a rare event, and according to terrorism expert Brian Jenkins, the chances of getting killed in a hotel terrorist attack is 1 in a million.
By comparison, he said, the average American has about a one in 8,000 chance of dying in an auto accident.
Consider the real dangers, not the unlikely ones (India for example has the second most dangerous roads in the world.) A general rule of thumb is that items that make it on the local or national news are the events that are least likely to happen, like plane crashes.
A Plan For An Unknown Type of Attack
There are plenty of ways that have been used to terrorize hotels in the past, bombs, arson, and recently gunmen. Any plan you make will end up being specific to a certain type of attack, which you can’t effectively predict. Jeffrey Goldberg suggests staying on the 4th, 5th, or 6th floor – but it won’t do you any good.
I try to be high enough to escape whatever chaos might occur on the ground floor, but not so high that I can’t be reached. I’m always of two or three minds on this question; it’s also not a bad idea to stay on a floor close enough to the ground that a jump will leave you with broken legs and nothing more.
In the case of the Mumbai attacks, several hostages were rescued by helicopter from the roof and nobody escaped by jumping out of a window.
Don’t Fall For The Taxi Scams At Indian Airports
August 27, 2008 by Anil P.
Filed under Advice, Car, Security, Travel Journal
It hadn’t been 5 minutes since I cleared customs in Delhi when a young Indian guy asked me if I needed a taxi and lead me to his green and yellow car sitting right outside of the airport. I knew better, but want to see what he was up to. The entire time he was rather talkative, asking questions about where I was from and doing in India – none of which I answered truthfully. Then I asked him how far away the hotel was, “25 kilometers” he replied for 3875 rupees (~$89 dollars).
Of course I didn’t get in, I went over to a prepaid taxi stand, paid 270 rupees ($6.20) for a short 5km trip down the road to my hotel.
I read about such cons at Indian airports before my previous trip to Bangalore, but it’s easy for someone to get taken in the confusing atmosphere outside of the terminal. Fortunately, it’s just as easy to avoid getting ripped off (or worse) with a few simple precautions.
Always Get Your Cab From A Prepaid Taxi Stand - These government-run booths are located toward the exit of the major airports with bold yellow signs. The prices are set by the state and the licensed drivers can be trusted to take you straight to your destination. You will also be provided an official receipt after prepaying.
Bagcam Watches The TSA Since You Can’t
Ever wonder what happens to your luggage once it’s checked in? Computer hacker “Algormor” got sick of seeing TSA notices of baggage inspection and placed a specialized video camera to find out what was going on.
I was able to attend a talk given by Algormor about the “bagcam” at The Last HOPE conference 3 weeks ago. Here are the highlights of what his hidden bagcam captured.
- Not surprisingly luggage was tossed about carelessly.
- Suitcases (in the US) pass through X-ray machines before they are passed along to personnel who take them to each plane.
- Many of the TSA staff were not watching the monitors – chatting with each other and one with arms folded staring at the ceiling.
Algormor has posted the slides from his presentation, which go into further detail and outline how to create your own bagcam as well his bagcam videos. Setting up a bagcam takes about 10 minutes and the equipment costs about $150-$500 depending on the quality and features of the camera. Although he hasn’t caught anything damning yet he will continue filming since he believes it’s only a matter of time before he does.
Unfortunately, I tend to agree.
[photo by: RobotSkirts]
Mail Your Hard Drive Back To The US To Avoid DHS Confiscation
Protect your personal data and computer contents from being indefinitely confiscated upon entry to the US by removing your laptop hard drive and mailing it ahead. Newly released policy documents from the Department of Homeland Security make clear that,
Federal agents may take a traveler’s laptop computer or other electronic device to an off-site location for an unspecified period of time without any suspicion of wrongdoing.
Many travelers have been shipping their luggage to avoid airline fees, but the fees for international travel are still prohibitively expensive. The cheapest option is to remove your laptop hard drive and mail it back a day or two before you return to the US.
The cost is approximately $75 for UPS and FedEx, but you’re sure to keep your data safe in case your laptop gets confiscated at the airport. Mailing your hard drive carries its own risks so always do the following.
Create A Simple, Temporary Travel Email Account
Stay in touch with your friends and family without jeopardizing the information in your email account by setting up a temporary travel account.
There are several free and quick ways to do this without having to create a huge number of additional accounts.
Create A Travel Email Account – Open a new email account with your current provider.? The new account should be your regular email address with “trav” at the end of it (i.e. “cindy@yahoo.com” becomes “cindytrav@yahoo.com”).
- Hotmail and Yahoo - These two email providers don’t have forwarding capabilities, but the free download GetMail can do it for you. Have all of your emails forwarded to the new account to protect your privacy abroad.
- Set up a vacation response (Gmail can do this too) telling your friends and family that you’re out traveling and to contact your ‘trav’ address.
- Gmail - Forwarding capabilities are built it as well strong filtering capabilities (Settings > Filters).
- In your primary account setup a filter for any words, people, or businesses you don’t want to be bothered by while on vacation. Have only the email you want delivered to your “trav” account forwarded.
TSA Tries To Calm Security Fears By Seeing You Naked
The TSA is testing out brighter uniforms, updated terrorist lists, and 30-millimeter wave machines that can see through clothing to ease the security line experience for passengers.
Airlines, which check passenger names against the list, will now be allowed to accept dates of birth from passengers to more thoroughly check information against the watch lists, Chertoff said. Once passengers have proven that they are not suspected terrorists, they will be able to print boarding passes at kiosks or at home, rather than going through a check-in line, Chertoff said.
Which makes me wonder how someone “proves” they are not a terrorist. None of these new features, being tested at BWI, make me feel more at ease or secure. What is “the security of the future” that makes you the least comfortable?
What New TSA Idea Makes You The Most Uncomfortable?
- Whole Body Machines That Let Screeners See You Naked (50%, 1 Votes)
- These Measures May Actually Improve Security (50%, 1 Votes)
- Brightly Dressed Employees (0%, 0 Votes)
- Soothing Blue Lights (0%, 0 Votes)
- Being Able To Prove You're Not A Terrorist (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 2
Loading ...[photo by: vidrio]
Effective and Free Ways To Keep Your Laptop Data Safe From The TSA
Travelers going through security airlines everywhere in the US may have their laptops searched or confiscated by the TSA for any reason. Other countries like England, Israel, and many more can do the same.
Password protecting your laptop won’t help either because if you don’t provide it when asked they’ll keep the machine. (And just crack it later.)
Fortunately for us there is powerful and free technology that can not only protect your files but make it look like you aren’t – no matter what skill level you possess.
Create An Encrypted Folder – Download the powerful Truecrypt and create an encrypted volume by following a simple wizard. Then copy all of your personal files there.
- What Is It? A Truecrypt volume is an encrypted folder that can only be opened with a password.
- Skill Level Required: Intermediate
Get US Access To Websites While Abroad With Free Download: Hotspot Shield
Increase the security of your wireless connections and bypass international blocks of websites by downloading Hotspot Shield. The program connects you to the Hotspot Shield virtual private network (VPN) located in the US potentially getting you around regional blocks of popular websites.
Netflix for example doesn’t allow users to access their “play now” feature which lets you watch movies in your queue on your PC. A connection through the Hotspot Shield VPN will trick this and many other websites into thinking you’re located in the US.
This hack didn’t work for me each time and the connections were less than stable, but tolerable for the most part. Hotspot Shield also purports to give you “unbreakable” secure wireless access but doesn’t tell you how. If you’re connecting through a fairly reputable wireless connection (like an airport or T-Mobile hot spot) most of your important data like passwords will already be encrypted by the websites you visit.
Avoid any computer-to-computer networks and keep your online accounts safe at Internet cafes with these 12 applications you can run from a USB drive. The advertisement heavy Hotspot Shield is a free download, for both PC and Mac.
Thanks Felipe!
EDITED [5/31]: Hotspot Shield works for both PC and Mac and is Lifehacker’s featured download today.
My name is Anil, a traveler and travel enthusiast. I created foXnoMad to connect with other travelers, discover their world, and share what I’ve learned about mine.
