As summer settles in, many people’s thoughts turn to travel or spending time at a cottage or campground. For plenty of these folks, a mandatory part of the vacation supplies includes taking along a smartphone, tablet, or laptop computer; in my case it’s all three.

A mobile device is perfect for taking photos and posting them online or sharing them by email, keeping in touch with family or friends, storing boarding passes and other sensitive documents, and using a GPS mapping app to navigate in unfamiliar locales.

Yet, despite its mobility and usefulness, a mobile device can easily be lost or stolen. With the amount of personal data the device contains, your holiday could turn into a digital or financial nightmare if a charlatan gains access to your email, or online shopping and social media accounts.

To avoid these possibilities, make sure no one can use the phone, tablet or laptop without entering a secure passcode or another option such as fingerprint or facial authentication.

If you need to........

© Peterborough Examiner