Digital Security & Year‑End Housekeeping 

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As you head off for conferences, fieldwork, or a hard‑earned vacation, give your digital life the same care you give your luggage. The checklist below combines summer‑travel security tips with end‑of‑academic‑year tasks so you start July with peace of mind and a clean slate.

Patch & Protect Before You Go

  • Install every update. Run operating‑system and app updates on laptops, tablets, and phones before departure—unpatched devices are prime ransomware targets.  See Keeping Your Computer Up to Date.
  • Turn on two‑factor authentication (2FA). Two‑factor authentication is already active with Sharkpass on your Simmons login—switch it on for your personal email, Google Workspace, cloud storage, and every other service that offers it to block most account‑takeover attacks.
  • Encrypt your devices. On your personal devices, use BitLocker (Windows) or FileVault (macOS); iOS and Android encrypt by default when you set a passcode. If the device is lost, your data stays protected.  We’ve done this on your Simmons-issued computer for you.
  • Consider, set up, and test a VPN. Public Wi‑Fi is never private; a VPN encrypts your traffic end‑to‑end.

Smart Habits on the Road

  • Avoid public USB charging ports. Stick with your own charger, a wall outlet, or a battery pack to dodge “juice‑jacking” attacks.
  • Use a privacy screen and choose seats wisely. Keep prying eyes off sensitive information in airports and cafés.
  • Keep devices in sight. Never leave laptops or phones unattended; if you must leave a laptop in a hotel room, secure it with a cable lock.
  • Watch for travel‑themed phishing. Summer brings fake flight‑change notices and hotel invoices—hover, pause, and verify before clicking.

Leaving Campus Safely

  • Appropriately backup and encrypt research data—especially anything covered by FERPA, HIPAA, or grant agreements—before you travel.
  • Store files in Google Drive rather than on USB sticks that are easily lost.

Quick Departure Checklist

  • Updates installed and encryption enabled
  • 2FA active on key accounts
  • Consider using a VPN, test and ready
  • Privacy screen in your carry‑on
  • Data backed up and safely stored
  • Required software licensed past June 30
  • (Graduating?) Files exported and devices sanitized, see Departing? Export Your Data

Questions? Contact the Service Desk at [email protected] or 617‑521‑2222.

Safe travels—and see you (and your data) back on campus in the fall!