The latest research from Kaspersky Lab confirms something we may already be aware of in our wired world today: people now consider connected devices to be essential when traveling.
The study shows that 63 percent of people depend on their devices for taking photos, 55 percent rely on them for navigating unfamiliar places, and 51 percent depend on them for calling for help when they need it.
But here’s the kicker: a whopping 39 percent will not think of traveling without their devices. That’s almost 2 out of every 5 people who will not travel without them.
The research from Kaspersky Lab shows how vulnerable people become once they lose the connectivity on their devices when they travel. This is how dependent we have all become on our modern gadgets.
And apparently, losing connectivity is not uncommon at all. The same study from Kaspersky Lab shows that one out of every six travelers (17 percent) have encountered problems during travel because of lost connectivity.
The examples of such issues with gadgets are: when phones or tablets malfunction, when the battery on these devices run out, and when something goes wrong with connectivity. Anecdotal evidence abounds as well, with people sharing their stories about getting food poisoning due to the inability of finding a safe place online to eat, not getting calls about changes in fight schedules, or not finding accommodations when they travel.
The most extreme and potentially dangerous case was of one survey respondent who got stuck in a dessert when the battery of his smartphone ran out, and he had no internet connection at all.
The survey results showed that 84 percent of people felt they would experience stress if they got lost in an environment they are unfamiliar with. 39 percent of respondents reported being fearful of such an occurrence happening to them.
Kaspersky Lab’s Vice President for Product Marketing, Dmitry Aleshin, says, “This incident – and many others – could have been avoided if we all took more care with our connected devices. If we are reliant on staying connected, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. After all, being connected helps us navigate our way around when we’re traveling, and find the best places to eat, drink and stay. But if we are reliant, let’s not jeopardize our safety by losing that connectivity when we’re out and about or in an unfamiliar place!”
One thing that will give travelers peace of mind is a security solution that can adapt to different situations—Kaspersky Security Cloud, which modifies itself to fit every single user regardless of their environment, type of device and connectivity.
Kaspersky Security Cloud includes an anti-theft feature that helps people specifically when their devices get lost or stolen, by locking and locating the missing device, setting off the alarm on the device, and even taking a photo of the thief who took it.
It also ensures a secure connection especially in unfamiliar places, through transferring data through an encrypted channel in order to keep personal data safe.
Additionally, the Kaspersky Security Cloud has a device power consumption feature which prevents the panic people feel when their devices are about to run out of power. It alert users when the battery on their device is very low and tells them how long they have left before the device runs out, thus giving users the time needed to look for charging options.
Kaspersky Lab is a veteran in the cybersecurity niche, having gathered expertise in deep threat intelligence and security issues for two decades now. 400 million users worldwide are protected by Kaspersky technologies, as well as 270,000 corporate clients.