Account Security While Travelling
Travelling can lock you out of accounts or expose them: roaming stops text codes, public Wi-Fi is risky, and phones get lost. How to prepare before you go and stay safe on the road.
Travel is when account security is tested. Your usual phone number may not receive codes, you may use unfamiliar Wi-Fi, banks may flag foreign transactions, and a lost phone is far harder to deal with abroad. A little preparation avoids most problems.
Before you go
- Set up an authenticator app or passkeys on key accounts, so you are not dependent on text codes. See authenticator apps.
- Print or save backup codes and keep them separate from your phone. See backup codes.
- Turn on find-my-device. See find my device.
- Note emergency numbers for your bank, card issuer and mobile network, somewhere other than your phone.
- Update your apps and phone.
- Check your bank's travel settings, such as card controls for foreign use.
While travelling
- Be careful with public Wi-Fi. Use mobile data or a trusted network for banking, and never enter passwords on unfamiliar Wi-Fi login pages that ask for account details.
- Shield your PIN and keep your phone secure in crowded places.
- Avoid public computers for logging into email or banking.
- Do not post real-time travel details. See what not to post.
- Watch for travel scams: fake bookings, fake taxis, fake officials. See travel booking scams.
If your phone is lost or stolen abroad, block your SIM and cards first, lock the phone remotely, and change key passwords from another device. See lost or stolen phone.
After you return
- Check statements for unfamiliar charges.
- Remove devices you signed in on while away.
- Change passwords used on any shared or public device.
Got a message about a booking or your account while away? Paste it into CyberWatch AI Scan for a free check.
For more, read our guide to identity theft and account security.
Frequently asked questions
Will I get text codes abroad?
Only if your phone has roaming and signal. Authenticator apps and passkeys work without a mobile signal, so set them up before you travel.
Is hotel or airport Wi-Fi safe for banking?
Most banking apps encrypt your connection, but public Wi-Fi can be spoofed. Use mobile data or a trusted connection for sensitive tasks where possible, and avoid entering passwords on unfamiliar login pages.
What if my phone is stolen abroad?
Block your SIM and cards immediately, lock the phone remotely, and change key passwords from another device. Contact your embassy if your passport is also lost.
Sources
- Avoid Scams When You Travel, US Federal Trade Commission
- Are Public Wi-Fi Networks Safe? What You Need To Know, US Federal Trade Commission
- Find, secure, or erase a lost Android device, Android Help
