Enmaeya News — The increased use of technology in travel has made personal data a frequent target for cyberattacks and mobile devices more vulnerable than ever.
Today, cybersecurity is no longer a luxury or an afterthought. With smartphones used for payments, storing documents, and staying connected, protecting information has become essential amid rising threats like hacking, scams, and data theft.
How to Avoid Digital Risks
A recent report by the World Tourism Organization titled "Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in the Tourism Sector 2024" highlighted the urgent need for smart, user-friendly applications to bridge the digital divide and help travelers manage every stage of their trips safely and efficiently.
In this context, more travelers are turning to AI-powered tools to select destinations that match their interests, determine the best travel times, and streamline booking and planning.
Virtual AI-based travel guides are also evolving rapidly, offering interactive experiences through digital maps, audio tours, and augmented reality—bringing new depth to visits to historic sites, cultural landmarks, and hidden gems.
On the policy front, countries like Turkey have launched “Safe Tourism” apps that accompany travelers from departure to return, ensuring a secure and compliant journey in line with official health and safety guidelines.
Watch Out for Ticket Booking Scams
The UAE Cybersecurity Council recently warned of an increase in fake ticket scams and urged travelers to rely only on confirmations issued by official websites or travel agencies. The Council recommends verifying website links carefully, avoiding “too good to be true” deals, and never purchasing tickets from unreliable sources or through social media. It also advises against using unapproved payment methods such as instant money transfers.
Protecting Family Data While Traveling
For families traveling with multiple devices and users, experts suggest centralizing all personal documents and files in a single, secure, and easily manageable location. This helps reduce the risk of data loss or confusion, instead of relying on individual cloud accounts or scattered storage.
Cloud storage solutions offer scalable and reliable backup options, while large external hard drives—up to 6 terabytes—remain a cost-effective choice for long-term digital archiving.
A 2025 global survey by Western Digital revealed that 28% of participants had lost sensitive data due to hardware failures, human error, or cyberattacks. Yet nearly half admitted they do not back up their data regularly, citing reasons such as limited storage space, lack of time, or believing it wasn’t necessary.
Smart Backup Tips While Traveling
Western Digital recommends creating backups before any trip—whether for business or leisure—to protect personal documents, photos, travel confirmations, and health records in case devices are lost, damaged, or stolen.
A hybrid backup strategy, combining cloud storage with physical backups like hard drives or network-attached storage (NAS), offers the most flexible and reliable access to data—with or without an internet connection.
Experts also advise organizing folders by date or category to make it easier to access photos, videos, and documents. File management tools and automation software can further reduce digital clutter and strengthen overall data security.
