How Can You Keep Yourself Safe When Traveling?

Much of the travel industry today accepts cryptocurrency payments including air and train lines, hotels and motels and tourist sites and destinations. If you’re traveling to a remote location, it might be more difficult to travel using crypto payments but the majority of the travel industry is happy to accept cybercurrency transactions.

The Jackpot Capital Bonus reminds blockchain users that, while crypto transactions are still deemed to be safer than other forms of online financial transactions, there are still dangers of hackers or scammers getting ahold of your funds. That means that, just as you take steps to protect yourself when using other forms of online payments, you must secure your crypto wallet using specific cybercurrency security strategies.

They include:

Hardware Wallets

Get a hardware wallet for day-to-day transactions.

There are three common types of blockchain wallets: online, software, and hardware.

Online hot wallets are connected to the internet at all times. They are convenient for making quick payments but they are more vulnerable to hacks and viruses. One online wallets are controlled by 3rd parties (exchanges) which means that, by storing your private keys, they can revoke your access. It rarely happens but it’s possible.

Software wallets can be installed on your desktop. That’s where the keys to your cybercurrency are generated and stored. The software wallet can lose your coins if your hard drive is damaged, infected by a virus or if the PC is stolen.

Hardware wallets generate and isolate the keys to your cryptocurrencies. Through a mixture of usability, privacy and security they generate and isolate the keys to your cybercurrency funds so they are inaccessible to anyone else, ever. A hardware wallet stores your private keys  offline which keeps it immune to remote attacks. This is especially important for travelers who move from one place to another frequently, often using public WiFis which put their security at risk. Open-source hardware wallets detect, report and fix any bugs or hacking attacks through security features that are updated frequently.

The increased security comes with a cost and that cost is functionality so the user experience isn’t as smooth. But the security requirements are, in the long-run, worthwhile, especially when you’re traveling and completely reliant on having funds when and where you need them.

Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication is an important safety measure for everyone but especially for travelers who are generally relying on mobile devices while they’re traveling and thus, are at increased risk to having those devices – and their automatically-generated passwords – stolen. Protecting your digital identity is vital for travelers who are using crypto. That means that you should create two-factor authentication on your important accounts to add an extra layer of security.

Some people don’t bother with two-factor authentication because it’s a bit unwieldy and cumbersome to use. But it’s a lot more inconvenient to have your wallet password – and your money – stolen!  To set up 2-factor authentication on your crypto account, log into your crypto exchange account using your username and password. An OTP (one-time password) will be sent to your smartphone which you then use to complete the log-in process. The OTP only works once so you have to repeat the process every time that you want to log into your account. But it’s a better solution than trying to make up for the damage after your account is hacked.

Google Voice

One quick and easy security step that travelers can take to secure their crypto accounts is to create a Google Voice phone number and then use it while you’re traveling. This prevents hackers from using your more-easily hackable landline or cell number to get access to your accounts.

Cyber-Friendly Locations and Businesses

If you’re relying on cryptocurrencies for your travel adventures, find a good travel blog or website that is devoted to providing information about which areas have a higher density of crypto-accepting businesses. Sites like CoinMap, Nomad List, Forbes Travel and GoCrypto specialize in providing information on which areas, and which travel-related businesses, are crypto-friendly. Some of these sites rely on crowdsourcing for their posts while other information is outdated. That’s why it’s a good idea to double-check every post and listing to confirm that the information is current.

Some of the travel companies that are specifically cybercurrency-friendly include:

• For flights: CheapAir, Distenia, Travala, Alternative Airlines, CheapOAir
• For travel insurance:  Cigna, World Nomads, IMA Global, Etherisc (insurance for flight delays)
• For Accommodations:  Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, Travel for Coins and BTCtrip

If you want to rely on crypto for your travels, it’s a good idea to connect to the crypto community for peer-to-peer exchanges. These exchanges bright together other crypto travelers who are happy to share experiences and ideas about how to travel safely using crypto.