You’re three hours into a five-hour drive to visit family for the holidays. Your daughter pipes up from the back seat:
“Can I play Roblox on your laptop?”
Your work laptop.
The one with client files, financial data, and the keys to your entire business.
You’re exhausted, the drive isn’t even half over, and honestly… keeping her entertained sounds like a life saver.
But here’s the truth: Holiday travel creates security risks you don’t face at home. You’re distracted. You’re tired. You’re bouncing between “family mode” and “just checking work real quick.” And all of that opens the door to mistakes that cybercriminals count on.
Whether you’re traveling for business, pleasure, or the chaotic mix of both, here’s how to keep your data safe without becoming the Grinch of family vacation.
Before You Leave: The 15-Minute Security Prep
Spend 15 minutes upfront — it’ll save you from major headaches later.
Device Basics
- Install all pending security updates
- Back up important files to the cloud
- Enable auto screen-locking (2 minutes max)
- Turn on Find My Device for phones and laptops
- Charge your portable power bank
- Pack your own cables and adapters (don’t rely on public charging)
Have the Family Talk
- Clarify which devices kids may use — and which they absolutely can’t
- Prep a shared iPad or family laptop for entertainment
- If needed, create a restricted user account before you leave
Pro tip: A $150 tablet is cheaper than a data breach. Don’t let kids use your work devices on the road—ever.
Hotel WiFi: Why Most Travelers Use It Wrong
You check in. Within minutes, every family member is connected to the hotel WiFi — phones, tablets, gaming devices, laptops. Everyone’s relaxing… except your cybersecurity.
Hotel WiFi is a shared network with hundreds of strangers. Some of them might be very curious about your data.
A Real Example
A family connected to what looked like the hotel’s WiFi.
It wasn’t.
It was a fake network created by someone sitting in the parking lot.
For two days, every password, email, and credit card number they entered was captured.
How to Protect Yourself
- Confirm the exact WiFi name with the front desk — no assumptions.
- Use a VPN for any work-related activity.
- Use your phone hotspot for banking, confidential emails, or client data.
- Let kids stream freely on hotel WiFi — but keep work activities separate.
“Can I Use Your Laptop?” — The Holiday Parent’s Dilemma
Kids don’t mean to create security risks — they just click everything.
Pop-ups, downloads, random links, sharing passwords with friends… all harmless on their tablet.
A disaster on your work device.
The Rule
Just say no — consistently.
If you must share:
- Create a separate user account
- Restrict permissions
- Supervise use
- Don’t allow downloads
- Clear browsing history afterward
Better yet? Bring a spare family device. Even an older tablet beats risking your business.
Streaming on Hotel TVs: The Log-Out Trap
Someone logs into Netflix on the hotel TV. You check out the next morning, rushing to load the car. No one remembers to log out.
Guess who’s still watching movies on your account?
Smart Fixes
- Cast from your own device instead of logging into the TV
- Set a quick reminder on your phone to log out
- Or download movies/shows before you travel
Never log into hotel TVs for anything involving money, work, or personal communication.
If a Device Goes Missing
Holiday travel is chaotic. Devices get left behind — in hotel rooms, restaurants, rental cars, airport bins.
Within the First Hour
- Try locating it using Find My Device
- If not found, remotely lock it
- Change passwords to critical accounts
- Contact your IT team/MSP to revoke system access
- If client data was stored on the device, begin notifications
Before You Travel, Make Sure You Have:
- Device tracking
- Strong password protection
- Automatic encryption
- Remote wipe capability
The Rental Car Data Trap
Connecting your phone to the rental car seems harmless — but many cars store:
- Call history
- Contacts
- Locations
- Text previews
Before Returning the Car
- Delete your phone from Bluetooth
- Clear GPS destinations
- Or skip connecting altogether and use an aux cable or your phone’s speaker
The “Working Vacation” Problem
You promised to unplug… but you’ve checked your email 47 times and taken three calls labeled “urgent.”
Constantly switching between roles makes you less careful — and that’s when security mistakes happen.
Set Boundaries
- Check email only twice a day
- Use your phone hotspot, not hotel WiFi, for work
- Work privately in your room, not in public spaces
- Be fully present with your family when it’s family time
The best cybersecurity practice? Actually rest. You’re sharper and safer when you’re not burned out.
Your Holiday Travel Security Mindset
Life happens. Sometimes a kid really does need to borrow your laptop. Sometimes you really do need to answer a work email on the road.
The goal isn’t perfection — it’s reducing risk by being intentional.
- Prep your devices
- Know which activities are high-risk
- Keep work and family tech separate
- Have a plan for when things go wrong
- And set boundaries that protect both your business and your sanity
Make This Holiday Memorable — For the Right Reasons
The holidays should be about people you love, not resetting passwords, filing breach notices, or explaining compromised client data.
A little preparation goes a long way.
Your family enjoys their holiday.
Your business stays secure.
Everyone wins.
Want help building a travel-safe cybersecurity policy for your team?
We can make it simple, practical, and family-friendly.
Schedule your free security consultation
Because the best holiday memory shouldn’t be: “Remember when Dad’s laptop got hacked?”
