How to protect yourself from malware on vacation

The Christmas holidays are near and some lucky among us will have the opportunity to go on vacation, perhaps to visit the Christmas markets. We have already told you about how to protect your browsing on vacation, in particular the importance of having a good VPN. Today, however, we want to talk about another fundamental aspect: even if we are on vacation, this does not mean that malware is the same. Indeed, one of the aspects on which an attacker can count the most is user distraction (think, for example, of phishing emails which can mislead those who do not pay enough attention to the content, the URL and other signals that should turn on a flashing red light). Well, you might think: "Captain Obvious!", yet it happens all too often that, during the holidays, we relax, stop thinking about work commitments and look more distracted at our e-mail, or in any case we end up using the laptop (if you decide to take it with you) in a more relaxed way, perhaps to enjoy some videos in the hours of rest, or play something before going to sleep. A recent study by Innovery also confirms that it is precisely during periods such as the Christmas holidays or other events that cyber attacks intensify. Therefore, it is important never to let your guard down!

In short, while we are enjoying a well-deserved rest and breathing in the Christmas spirit, it can happen that we let our guard down, so it is essential not to forget the right protection in your devices. If you already have an antivirus, make sure it's updated to the latest version before leaving, or choose one that suits your needs, for example that covers an adequate number of devices and platforms, based on the devices you will bring with you. For example, if you are particularly concerned about the recent wave of ransomware attacks, we have prepared a list of the best antiviruses to protect yourself from ransomware, ranking the various brands on the market according to their effectiveness in treating this particular type of malware. We've also compiled a guide to the best antivirus for Mac and the best antivirus for Android, and if you're out of budget, we've also got a guide to the best free antivirus.



Malware never goes on vacation... Another piece of advice, which might seem trivial but which, believe me, isn't, is to make sure you make a full backup of your system before packing it: we have a guide to best backup software, both free and paid, which we advise you to consult if you have not yet chosen one of these tools. Furthermore, depending on the contents of your hard disk and its importance, it would be particularly advisable to respect the 3 2 1 backup rule, especially if you don't want nasty surprises. On the other hand, while we are on vacation, anything can happen (with the necessary exorcisms): a lost suitcase with your laptop inside, a theft, or the "simple" loss of a device could be really a big hassle. This is why we advise you to make a separate backup copy, which among other things could also help you limit the possible damage caused by a possible ransomware attack.

In conclusion, even on vacation, always try to be cautious: trash suspicious emails and, if possible, avoid downloading pirated material (perhaps that movie that just came out that you just can't help but see), not only because it's illegal and we dissociate ourselves 100% from this practice, but also because visiting certain sites can expose you to more than one cyber threat. If you connect to a public network, perhaps from the lobby of your hotel, remember that it is always better to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to prevent third parties from getting their hands on your data. That said, we just have to wish you happy holidays and good rest!

We leave you with our top 3 best antivirus to consider:



Bitdefender Antivirus, one of the best security packages ever

Bitdefender Total Security is a impressive suite with tons of features, if you're looking for an all-encompassing product, this could be for you. Furthermore, Bitdefender's anti-ransomware system is effective and well designed .

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Norton, an antivirus also effective against ransomware

Norton is one of the best antiviruses on the market, which we recommend unreservedly, also for its protection system against ransomware.

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Trend Micro Maximum Security
Trend Micro Maximum Security provides advanced protection for Windows and Android devices, more than enough on macOS and outperforms most competitors on iOS. Its protection against ransomware is one of the most effective.

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