Six holiday cybersecurity tips for travelling with families

There’s nothing quite like traveling with kids during the holidays. You’ve got gifts shoved between socks, snacks stashed in every pocket, someone crying about forgetting a stuffed animal and TSA questioning whether substances like Play-Doh counts as a liquid. For the record: It does.

By the time you get to the gate, the last thing on your mind is digital safety. But traveling with kids and devices is when families are most vulnerable online.

I know better than to tell you to embrace holiday travel without screens: A few simple steps can keep your family’s data, devices and sanity safe while you make those holiday memories. The six topics below are my must-dos for any family vacation travel.

1. Take five minutes to do a little prep for digital safety for kids.

• Update all devices and apps. It’s boring, but necessary. Those updates fix security holes that hackers love to exploit.
• Turn on location sharing tools. “Find My iPhone” or “Google Family Link” can be a lifesaver if someone leaves a tablet behind somewhere (it happens).
• Check roaming and syncing settings. Turn off automatic app downloads and background syncing.
• Download the important stuff. Save copies of passports, itineraries and emergency contacts somewhere you can open even if you lose service—like a password-protected note or secure app.
• Don’t forget the adapters. Not all outlets are created equal! Get the right plug adapters so your chargers actually work when you land. After one too many times of forgetting the adapters, my Motherish co-host, Pamela Silva, finally bought a universal one for all future trips.

2. Skip the public Wi-Fi.

• A virtual private network makes those public Wi-Fi networks more secure. It keeps your connection encrypted and your personal info protected.
• Those shared computers at hotels? Hard pass! They’re rarely secure.
• Teach your kids to ask before connecting. Some “free Wi-Fi” networks aren’t safe at all and are a hotspot for hackers.
• Turn off Bluetooth and hotspot sharing. They’re basically open doors for nearby strangers.
• Disable functionality like AirDrop on kids’ devices. It’s the easiest way to prevent inappropriate or random files from popping up mid-flight.

3. Take at-home screen boundaries with you.

A vacation shouldn’t just be “screens in a new ZIP code.” During the holidays, we have a strict “no phones or tablets at dinner” rule, just like at home. I want everyone talking between bites of lechón, not watching videos online.

• Create a family device plan. Decide ahead as to when screens are OK (planes, downtime) and when they’re off-limits (meals, sightseeing).
• Use parental controls. Apps like Verizon Family Plus let you set data and Wi-Fi limits on their devices so the rules at home stay rules on the road, too.
• Download content before you go. Pre-loaded movies, audiobooks and games mean less stress and no begging for Wi-Fi passwords at every café.
• Model digital breaks. Kids follow your lead. If you put your phone away, they’re more likely to do the same.

4. Set up a secure family chat to maintain cybersecurity during the holidays.

Holiday excitement and social media don’t always mix. It’s easy to overshare without realizing it.

• Apps like WhatsApp make it easy to communicate safely across time zones.
• Discuss what’s okay to post. Family photos? Sure. Boarding passes and hotel names? Maybe not.
• Pause before you post. Wait until you’re home to tag your location. It’s a small change that makes a big difference.

5. Prepare with these holiday cybersecurity tips in case of digital emergencies.

Even if you do everything right, tech mishaps can still happen.

• Know how to suspend a device remotely. It can protect your personal data if something goes missing.
• Keep emergency contacts handy. Have important numbers saved in your phone and written down.
• Act fast if your phone or credit cards get hacked. Change your passwords immediately and contact your provider to freeze suspicious activity.

6. And for Verizon customers:

• Log in to My Verizon online or use the app on your phone and check your international travel settings.
• Turn on data roaming if you plan to use mobile data or turn it off if you don’t to avoid surprise background data usage.
• Decide: Will you buy a TravelPass (daily fee) or the International Monthly Plan? For example:
  • TravelPass: about $12 per day in many countries; or about $6 a day in Canada and Mexico; myPlan customers can also choose the TravelPass Perk and earn three TravelPass days per month for $10. 
  • Long trip? International Monthly Plan is about $100/line for 30 days in over 210 countries

Before you power down for takeoff, make sure your digital world is as ready for adventure as your suitcase. That way, you can focus on what really matters: being present for the moments that make the season magical.

We got you: You’re there for them with Verizon Family. Verizon’s there for you—including our 3-year price lock*.

*Learn more about our 3-year price lock guarantee.