To help educate consumers as they prepare for the upcoming holiday season, McAfee conducted a study, “Digital Detox: Unwind, Relax and Unplug,” to better understand the behavior and attitudes of consumers when on vacation, and how digital habits could be putting their personal information at risk.
The survey found that despite the benefits experienced from unplugging, most individuals prefer to stay connected. More than half of the Indians on holiday (60%) indicated that they spend at least an hour a day using their connected devices to check email, text and post to social media while on vacation.
The end of the year travel season can be a lot of fun for everyone, including cybercriminals who may try to exploit travelers who are in unfamiliar settings. When individuals put convenience over security, by using unsecured Wi-Fi access points, they leave themselves open to the possibility of having their personal information compromised.
“Vacations can be an ideal opportunity to take a break from connected devices, but most Indians are struggling to do so,” says Venkat Krishnapur, VP of Engineering and Managing Director at McAfee. “Our study reveals, almost three in four Indians rely on unsecured Wi-Fi during their vacations to connect with family, friends, work and social media, increasing their exposure to prying cybercriminals. To avoid being compromised, it becomes even more important for travelers to exercise caution and rely on technology to stay safe online across all devices.”
The wide availability of Wi-Fi networks can make it difficult to unplug and disconnect on vacation, but if consumers take that extra step and unplug they can experience a more secure trip. While many individuals did not intend to unplug while traveling, 83% Indians reported a much more enjoyable experience being unplugged.
Can’t Put the Device Down:
Carefree Wi-Fi Usage
Work, Work, Work:
Mom and Dad Know Best:
Tips to Help Secure Your Personal Information and Devices:
· Browse securely when away from home. Ensure that you are connecting securely while traveling and avoid using public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks. If you absolutely must connect to a public Wi-Fi network, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) like McAfee Safe Connect. A VPN will keep your information private and ensure that data goes straight from your device to where you are connecting.
Survey Methodology
In March 2017, McAfee LLC conducted an online study of 1,504 people in India who use a connected device daily. The survey included individuals between 18-55 split evenly by gender.