Safe Travel Tips from the Information Security Office

Traveling over the holidays? Follow these precautions to protect your data and Rice resources.

backpack in airport chairs

Reposting of campus message on 11/18/2022

Dear Colleagues,

As we approach another holiday season and many of us prepare to travel, the Information Security Office would like to remind everyone of a few important points:

  • Technology is highly targeted by thieves, especially in travel areas around the holidays. Leave all unnecessary devices or equipment at home or in a locked office.
  • Devices like laptops and tablets are often lost during busy security screening lines and in crowded terminals. Make sure devices are encrypted and use strong passwords in case the device is lost or stolen.
  • To prevent the loss of information if a device is lost or stolen, remove sensitive or confidential information from your devices before traveling. You can safely store data on university servers or approved cloud storage systems like Box.com for later access.
  • Use VPN when connecting to unknown or unfamiliar networks. Also, even if prompted when connecting to unfamiliar networks, do not install agents or helper applications, as these are often designed to eavesdrop on connections, even over VPN.

Traveling internationally? Follow these additional steps to further protect your devices and the information they contain:

For more information, please visit our traveling with technology website or contact the OIT Help Desk at 713-348-HELP or helpdesk@rice.edu.

Thank you and safe travels!

Marc Scarborough

Chief Information Security Officer