Travelling with electronic devices

• Minimise the data contained on your personal devices. This is particularly true of logins and passwords, credit card information and passport numbers.
• Assume that anything you do on the device, particularly over the Internet, will be intercepted. In some cases, encrypted data may be decrypted.
• Never use shared computers in cyber cafes, public areas, hotel business centres, or devices belonging to other travellers, colleagues, or friends.
• Keep the device(s) with you at all times during your travel. Do not assume they will be safe in your hotel room or in a hotel safe.
• Change any and all passwords you may have used abroad once you return from travel.
• When accessing the Internet, use the UWA UniConnect VPN and avoid accessing the Internet directly.
• Refrain from using removable media such as USB thumb drives as these devices can easily be lost or stolen. If you must use a USB device, encrypt any confidential information.
• Remain vigilant and refrain from clicking on links in emails and opening emails and attachments that look suspicious or from unknown senders. These could be phishing emails and contain malicious software that could be attempting to access your confidential data.

The Cyber Security team encourages all staff who are travelling with University-owned and managed devices to contact the University IT Service Desk to have a security "health check" conducted before departure and upon return from travel, to ensure that your devices are up-to-date with security patches, antivirus programs and the like, and that basic controls are in place.

For more information on guidelines and special consideration, refer to Guidelines: Travelling Abroad With Electronic Devices.