There’s No Place Like Home

“There’s no place like home”… That iconic line from The Wizard of Oz is absolutely true because at home we feel safe and secure.  But when we travel and bring along our devices that safe zone is far behind us.  As Dorothy ventured on her journey, she had no idea of the characters and threats she would meet on her way to Oz.  Luckily, Dorothy had her ruby slippers for protection.

If you venture beyond your digital home this summer, beware of the cyber villains lurking around every bend in the road.  The Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and Scarecrow are all wonderful characters; but in the real world of summer travels, some characters you encounter are far more nefarious.

Heartless Hacker (Tin Man)

Avoid this cold, heartless, calculating criminal.  He is not interested in you.  He wants your data and uses malware, phishing scams, ransomware and more to steal your information and/or to lock you out of your protected data files.  Be especially skeptical of any emails you receive when traveling.  You are more vulnerable to clicking yourself into a problem when you are on the road.  He hides malware in public charging stations and on unsecured devices that you might be tempted to use when you are in a hurry.  Protect yourself from the Tin Man:

  • Use only your own charger and power bank, never a public USB charging station.
  • Exercise caution with all emails and text messages, especially those asking for credentials of any kind.
  • Keep all security software updated and use Multi-Factor Authentication.


Opportunistic Thief (Cowardly Lion)

Beware of this cowardly petty thief.  This bad guy does not have the sophistication or cunning of the hacker, but he takes advantage of physical opportunities to garner treasures.  He is the one who grabs your unattended phone or laptop.  He might also try to shoulder surf and steal your passwords while seemingly sipping an espresso in a café.  Protect yourself from the Cowardly Lion:

  • Never, under zero circumstances, leave your devices unattended.
  • Always use strong/new passwords and biometric locks and/or a passkey for access.
  • Before you travel, enable security features on your devices such as remote wipe and device tracking.
  • Use anti-theft bags and locked compartments when available.

 

Misinformation Master (Scarecrow)

Confusion and urgency are the tactics of the shady Scarecrow.  He wants you to be as confused as he is(n’t).  Anything that facilitates you sharing your credentials or clicking on something malicious is his modus operandi.  This criminal is the Lord of the Fakes, impersonating familiar website and Wi-Fi network names.  He wants you to react to his pop-up or call that tells you of an urgent problem you need to address RIGHT NOW!  He also favors other social media scams like fake travel deals.  Protect yourself from the Scarecrow:

  • Verify Wi-Fi networks before connecting—confirm the correct name with multiple hotel staff (not just one).
  • Never click on any pop-up alert claiming your device is infected.
  • Question any deal or offer that has that too-good-to-be-true feel.
  • Leverage VPN and MFA on any public network that you must use.

 

Dorothy’s companions helped her find her way home.  But in the digital world, you must be prepared.  As your summer adventures commence, contact IT Radix to ensure you’re armed and aware, enabling you to outsmart the bad guys, so you can click your heels safely back to your digital home.

First published in our July 2025 IT Radix Resource newsletter