We love a summer holiday. It’s that time of the year when your only worries are whether you have enough puff to blow up an inflatable unicorn, or if the poolside waiter is coming back any time soon with the drinks menu. Whether you’re going abroad or taking advange of the UK sunshine, you deserve the break.

But while you kick back and relax, the scammers aren’t going anywhere. So it’s important to keep digital security in mind. Just as you might put a padlock on your suitcase and keep foreign currency in a money belt, you should ensure your digital devices and online accounts are as well protected as possible while travelling – and be savvy about how you use social media on holiday.

To help protect against online threats, take advantage of Virgin Media Advanced Security, our top-level security solution. Whether you’re at home or on the go, Advanced Security can help you stay safe with all kinds of clever, easy-to-use tools that keep your personal data out of anyone else’s hands. Provided by F-Secure – our award-winning security partner – it allows you to browse, bank and buy, worry-free.

Sign up today for a no-commitment three-month trial – it won’t cost you a thing – and then download it on all your online devices to get going.

Read on for some essential travel security tips to boost your digital safety while you’re away from home.

When we’re on holiday, we’re often relaxing in unfamiliar surroundings. This makes a lovely change of pace from the daily grind, but it’s also the perfect environment for losing devices – whether you accidentally drop your phone in a pool or are unlucky enough to be targeted by pickpockets in a piazza.

Hopefully, neither of those things will happen. But implementing some extra security measures before you go will help limit the damage if the worst happens. Here are some steps to consider:

Back up your devices. Even if your phone or tablet does go walkabout, backing up means you can restore your treasured photos, messages or music collection on another device. Back-up methods vary depending on device, but are rarely tricky – a quick online search for your model of device and “how to back up” will give clear instructions.

Lock all devices, including e-books, with a password, passcode or passphrase. If your device allows it, a passphrase is harder to crack than a simple word or collection of numbers. Think of a simple run-on sentence (eg “I love Ibiza”), then throw in some special characters and different cases (eg “i _L0v3_Ib1£a”).

Approve all pending software updates. Yes, even those you’ve been snoozing for a month. They often include fixes to security issues, so you’ll be getting the best possible protection.

Install reliable anti-virus software such as Virgin Media Advanced Security on your mobiles and tablets. Among other things, these will secure your online banking sessions and payments – important if you’ll be checking your account while you’re away. You can try Virgin Media Advanced Security for three months at no extra cost. 

Turn off functionalities you don’t need. Wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and NFC should be switched off when you’re not using them, especially in public places. Leaving them on may make your device more vulnerable to hackers.

If possible, don’t pack all your devices: the fewer valuable items you have to protect and remember while you’re on holiday, the better. It also means that if something goes wrong, you’ll know you have a device at home where you can easily access all your accounts and data.

This is particularly important if you’re leaving lots of precious items at home (which you probably are). Holiday periods often see spikes in burglaries, because criminals know homes are sitting empty while people are away.

We’re not saying you should go off-grid, but it’s worth thinking twice before posting that you’re about to head off to the beach/mountains/coast. Consider only sharing holiday details and photos once you’re home – and avoid adding your location to posts while you’re away.

Steer clear of using public computers and tablets in hotels, airports, and libraries if you can – you just don’t know who used them previously or what viruses or malicious software might be lurking on them. This is particularly important to bear in mind if you want to log into important accounts such as online banking, email or social media.

If you have to use a public device to check personal accounts, remember to log out of everything and clear the online browser history before you leave. When you next have access to a secure device, consider changing the passwords for the accounts you used in risky places. A password manager will make this process much easier.

If you sync your phone in a rental car to use features such as music or hands-free calling, be aware that the rental company (plus any subsequent drivers) may then be able to see your contacts and other synced information. That’s just one example of why it’s important to think carefully before connecting or charging your devices on holiday.

When connecting, pay attention to the warnings on your mobiles and tablets asking if you want to allow syncing of your contacts and photos. Feel free to say no!

It’s safer not to connect to public Wi-Fi if you can avoid it. If you’re holidaying in Europe, it’s preferable to use mobile data, which is more secure than public Wi-Fi networks. Most mobile carriers still allow customers to use UK minutes, texts and data in the EU at no extra charge. Just check your contract before you travel.

Remember, digital security shouldn’t make your life harder or your holiday less enjoyable. You don’t need to be paranoid and hyper-vigilant about the risks to your devices; in fact, it could spoil your trip.

But by taking these simple steps ahead of time – and paying attention to the digital devices and services you use while you’re away – you’ll be able to properly relax, safe in the knowledge that you’re as protected as possible. Have a good trip.

Virgin Media Advanced Security: Sign up for a three-month trial at no extra cost

Sign up here for Virgin Media Advanced Security and start your no-commitment three-month trial today. No bank or credit card details are required for the trial. Then download it on all your online devices to get going.

Virgin Media Essential Security: online security built into your home Wi-Fi network

For peace of mind about your home devices when you’re travelling, remember that for all Virgin Media broadband customers, Essential Security is always on guard. It picks up on scam websites and warns you before your devices are exposed to anything malicious. That means your family can browse to the max, knowing we’ve got your backs. The best bit? It’s built into your home’s Wi-Fi network, at no extra cost – and it’s automatically activated when you join us, so you don’t need to lift a finger. Manage your Essential Security, including parental controls, from My Virgin Media.