Rick Steves Recommends Using Specific Settings To Protect Your Phone While In Europe

Travel isn't without its risks. While most destinations in Europe are relatively safe for tourists, it's not uncommon for travelers to fall victim to petty crimes like pickpocketing while on vacation. Having your belongings stolen is a huge bummer and can put a damper on an otherwise epic trip, but more serious issues like identity theft can have long-lasting negative repercussions. Regardless of where you're traveling, protecting your cyber security is crucial.

Rick Steves, a world-famous European travel expert, has some excellent tips when it comes to protecting your digital information while traveling abroad. Rick Steves spends several months per year exploring Europe and has taken many thousands of travelers on group tours. He's published multiple best-selling guidebooks, hosted television programs, and has an estimated net worth of around $15 million. With that kind of wealth and reputation, you can bet he's pretty serious about protecting his digital information.

In an article posted on his website, Steves shared some of his top tips for protecting your phone while traveling throughout Europe. While he insists travelers shouldn't be overly "freaked out," he encourages his audience to "aim for a middle ground of cautiousness." By implementing his easy tips, including using Face ID and passcodes for apps as well as enabling "Find My" options, you can help ensure that your information remains safe and that your trip to Europe is as stress-free as possible.

Obviously, keeping track of your belongings while traveling is of utmost importance. Most frequent travelers know that they should be aware of their surroundings, be wary of pickpockets in crowded settings like train stations, and avoid leaving expensive electronics sitting out in public spaces. Rick Steves has some excellent tips for protecting yourself from pickpockets in Europe, but even if you're careful, it's still possible to fall victim to theft. Setting up passcodes and passwords in case your phone ends up in the wrong hands is a smart move.

Steves suggests updating your phone's operating software and making sure your apps are also updated before embarking on your trip. Enable two-factor authentication and facial recognition so that it isn't easy for thieves to unlock your phone. "If it's already protected, consider decreasing the time it takes for the screen to lock when not in use — while it's annoying to have to keep entering your code, that's not nearly as annoying as identity theft," Steves wrote in his article.

Once your phone is locked up like Fort Knox, update your security settings on apps that you use for shopping, since they probably have your banking or credit card information stored. Make sure that each app requires facial recognition or a password every time you log in. If your phone were to get stolen without taking this precaution, someone could open your Amazon account and order whatever they wanted or gain access to your credit card information.

You've probably heard it's a bad idea to use the same password for multiple sites because if one account was compromised, a thief could easily access all of the others with the same login information. Rick Steves recommends diversifying your passwords and setting up a password manager for your trip abroad if you don't already have one. Password managers securely store all of your login information so you don't have to remember a million different things. He recommends iCloud Keychain for Apple users. 1Password is another great option, with individual subscriptions starting at just $2.99 per month.Additionally, Steves suggests that you "don't store passwords, PINs, account numbers, or other sensitive information in your Notes/Keep app, or any app that doesn't require its own login." You should also be aware of your surroundings and make sure no one is lingering nearby hoping to catch sight of your password or passcode as you type it in. 

While some travelers may be worried about connecting to public Wi-Fi when traveling, Steves wrote that, "the widespread use of data encryption has lowered the risk of using an open network to near zero." Similarly, tourists shouldn't be overly concerned about using public USB ports to charge their devices. Most newer phones have built in protections against malware.

Focus on ensuring your device is trackable if it gets stolen by turning on the "Find My" option. Steves also recommends using the "stolen device protection" feature if you're an iPhone user, which will make it harder for thieves to make changes to your device by implementing additional security measures. Hopefully, you won't get pickpocketed while traveling, but if you do, following Rick Steves advice will give you some peace of mind.