DataMotion Urges Travelers to Remain Vigilant About Keeping Their Data Secure When on the Road

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., June 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer is a time for employees to take to the road, both for business and vacation. Wi-Fi and connectivity are now amenities expected everywhere by travelers, who have shown they are willing to connect to an unknown, potentially unsecure network in order to get work done. Cyberthieves will not take the summer off and when it comes to securing data, travelers should not either. With that in mind, DataMotion™, a leading provider of email encryption and clinical data delivery services and solutions, today issued tips for travelers to better protect themselves and their company data during the summer travel and conference season.

Whenever a company issued laptop leaves the protection of its home network, the risk to which it is exposed, and consequently the private data and information it holds, greatly increases. Other activities, such as personal use, introduces even more risk. Research by GFI Software has shown that more than two-thirds (66.9 percent) of U.S. employees use their company-issued computer for personal, non-work activities, further increasing the potential for data loss.

Whether traveling for work or leisure, travelers expect to remain in touch and are in constant search of Wi-Fi connectivity and trends have shown that people will utilize any free source, including unsecure ones and those that may have been set up with malicious intent. Targeting unsuspecting travelers is proving a lucrative approach for cyberthieves and the data protection experts at DataMotion recommend travelers keep the following in mind in order to protect their information and online activities when on the road:

• Beware of Free Wi-Fi: Be sure to verify the name of the network of the Wi-Fi provider. Avoid network names that looks suspicious, like "Starbux" or "Free Public." Hackers often set up "dummy" networks, targeting victims with the lure of free connectivity in order to steal information.
• Public Wi-Fi is Not Secure: When connecting to a public Wi-Fi network, such as in an airport, hotel or coffee shop, be aware that these hotspots are particularly vulnerable to hackers wanting to steal users' information. Public Wi-Fi spots value ease-of-use over security, and to maximize this, may completely disable security features, including passwords.
• Hotel and Airport Business Centers: Business centers providing office amenities for customers are attractive targets for cybercriminals. Users should be extra careful at these facilities to make sure they are utilizing only secure connections.
• Use Secure Connections: Especially while conducting online transactions or entering sensitive information into a portal site, make sure the connection is secure. Visitors to web sites, especially ones where information will be inputted, should make sure the web address starts with "https," which is the secure version of http. Popular browsers often indicate a secure connection with a locked padlock symbol in the address bar.
• Encrypt Everything: One sure method to protecting data sent over public and potentially malicious networks is to encrypt all communications. Emails containing sensitive company or even personal information are attractive items for hackers to steal. Encrypted email services, like DataMotion SecureMail, protect messages all the way to the recipient, even if they're sent from an unsecured public hotspot.

"When traveling for business or pleasure this summer, travelers can never take a break from making sure their information and data is protected," said Bob Janacek, co-founder and chief technology officer of DataMotion. "Cyberthieves have learned to exploit people's demands for connectivity and convenience and have turned public networks, and the Internet in general, into very dangerous places. With these tips, we hope that everyone can keep their data safer while traveling to conferences and vacations."

For more information about how to better protect your data-in-transit, please visit: https://www.datamotion.com/products/securemail/

About DataMotion and DataMotion Health
Since 1999, DataMotion secure data delivery technology has enabled organizations of all sizes to reduce the cost and complexity of delivering electronic information to employees, customers and partners in a secure and compliant way. Ideal for regulated workflows, the DataMotion SecureMail portfolio offers easy-to-use encryption solutions for email, file transfer, forms processing and customer-initiated contact. In the healthcare sector, DataMotion Health is an accredited HISP (health information service provider) of Direct Secure Messaging. The DataMotion Direct service enables efficient interoperability and sharing of patient data across the continuum of care. DataMotion is privately held and based in Florham Park, N.J. For the latest news and updates, visit https://www.datamotion.com, follow DataMotion on LinkedIn or Twitter® @datamotion.

Media Contacts:

Monica Hutton
DataMotion
(973) 455-1245 x510
[email protected]

Marty Querzoli 
LEWIS Global Communications
(781) 418-2433
[email protected]  

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SOURCE DataMotion

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