December 08, 2025
Imagine being three hours into a five-hour road trip to visit family during the holidays when your daughter asks, "Can I use your laptop to play Roblox?" Your work laptop—filled with sensitive client files, financial records, and your entire business infrastructure. You're drained from packing, still have a long way to go, and honestly, keeping her happy sounds reasonable. But is it risky? Yes.
Holiday travel introduces unique security challenges you don't encounter in everyday life. Distractions, fatigue, unfamiliar WiFi networks, and the blurred lines between family time and "just checking work" can leave your data vulnerable. Traveling for business or pleasure, here's how to safeguard your information without spoiling the festive spirit.
Prep Your Devices in 15 Minutes Before You Hit the Road
Spend just 15 minutes preparing to secure your tech for the trip:
Essential Device Steps:
- Run all security updates immediately
- Back up critical files securely to the cloud
- Set auto screen lock to activate within 2 minutes
- Enable "Find My Device" on phones and laptops
- Fully charge portable power banks
- Bring your own charging cables and adapters
Have a Family Tech Chat:
- Clarify which devices kids are allowed to use
- Provide a family tablet or dedicated secondary device for entertainment
- Create separate user accounts on shared devices when necessary
Pro tip: Bring a tablet that's disconnected from work accounts for your kids' use. Investing $150 in a separate iPad beats risking a costly data breach.
Hotel WiFi: How to Avoid Common Pitfalls
After checking into the hotel, everyone quickly connects phones, tablets, laptops, and gaming gadgets to the WiFi. Your teenager streams Netflix, your spouse checks emails, and you try to prepare for tomorrow's meeting.
Here's the issue: hotel WiFi is public and shared by hundreds—some with malicious intent.
Real-life example: A family connected to a fake hotel WiFi network set up in the parking lot. For two days, hackers intercepted every password, credit card number, and email they sent online.
Stay Secure With These Tips:
Confirm the exact WiFi name with the front desk. Never connect based on guesswork.
Use a VPN for work access to encrypt your connection when checking emails or handling company files.
For sensitive activities like banking or accessing confidential data, rely on your phone's mobile hotspot—not hotel WiFi.
Separate work from entertainment: It's okay for kids to stream cartoons on hotel WiFi, but use a secure hotspot for business tasks.
The Risks of Letting Kids Use Your Work Laptop
Your laptop holds emails, bank accounts, client files, and business systems. Kids want to watch YouTube, play games, or video chat.
Why it matters: Kids can inadvertently download malware, click risky pop-ups, share passwords, or forget to log out—all posing serious security threats on work devices.
How to handle this:
Politely say no to using work devices. Offer a dedicated device instead and stay firm.
If sharing is unavoidable:
- Set up a restricted user account
- Monitor their activities
- Block downloads
- Avoid saving any passwords
- Clear browsing history after each use
Better yet: Bring a separate family device for travel to keep work and play distinct.
Streaming on Hotel TVs? Don't Forget to Log Out
Watching Netflix on a hotel smart TV? If someone logs into your account and you forget to log out, the next guest gains full access to your streaming service.
Worse: If you reused your streaming password on other important accounts (hope not!), it could lead to broader security issues.
Smart fixes:
- Cast content from your personal device instead of logging in on the TV
- Set phone reminders to log out before checkout
- Download shows offline beforehand to avoid using hotel TVs
Never log into these on hotel TVs:
- Banking apps
- Work accounts
- Social media
- Any account with saved payment info
Lost a Device? Act Fast to Protect Data
Travel can be chaotic—devices get misplaced in restaurants, rental cars, or airports. If your device goes missing, quick action is critical.
Within the first hour:
- Use "Find My Device" to locate it immediately
- Remotely lock the device if unrecoverable
- Change passwords for key accounts from another device
- Alert your IT team to revoke company system access
- Notify clients if sensitive business info was on the device
Before travel, ensure your device has:
- Remote tracking enabled
- Strong password protection
- Automatic data encryption
- Remote wipe capabilities
If a family member loses their device, follow the same steps promptly.
Beware the Rental Car Data Storage Trap
Connecting your phone via Bluetooth to rental car systems can store contacts, call history, and even message previews on the car's system—data accessible to the next renter.
Quick 30-second steps before returning the car:
- Remove your phone from the car's Bluetooth settings
- Clear recent GPS destinations
- Or avoid connectivity altogether by using an aux cable or offline music
Balancing Work and Vacation Without Sacrificing Security
You promised family time but find yourself checking email multiple times and working while others play. This split focus lowers your guard, increasing security risks.
Practical advice: If unplugging isn't an option, set clear work boundaries:
- Limit email checks to two specific times daily
- Use your mobile hotspot for work tasks instead of hotel WiFi
- Work in your hotel room where screens aren't public
- Be fully present during family activities
The best cybersecurity tip? Take a real break. Your business will survive a few days without you, and you'll return more focused and alert.
Mastering the Holiday Travel Security Mindset
Mixing work and family during holiday trips is tricky. Sometimes kids need your laptop, or urgent emails catch you off guard. Perfect security isn't realistic, but thoughtful caution goes a long way.
Remember to:
- Prep your devices before leaving
- Recognize which activities carry higher risk and which don't
- Separate work data from family entertainment where possible
- Have a clear plan in case something goes wrong
- Know when to say, "No, not on this device," and mean it
Make This Holiday Season Truly Special
Holidays are for creating memories with loved ones—not battling data breaches or damage control with clients.
With a little preparation and smart rules, you can protect your business and enjoy a worry-free holiday. Your family gets quality time. Your business stays secure. Everyone wins.
Need help crafting travel security plans for your team and yourself? Click here or call us at 866-523-2985 to schedule a free 15-Minute Discovery Call. We'll help you build practical, easy-to-follow policies that keep your business safe without complicating travel.
Because the best holiday story shouldn't be, "Remember when Dad's laptop got hacked?"
