Travel plans and the Internet were clearly made for each other. There’s no better way of researching different destinations, comparing prices, and contemplating delicious vacation alternatives than the Internet. Whether it’s a trekking adventure through the rainforest, a relaxing cruise, or a fly-drive vacation you are looking for, the Internet provides a wealth of information at your fingertips.

Using the Internet as your vacation launch pad is extremely convenient. Millions of people are now doing all their travel preparations from the comfort of their home, including printing out their own flight tickets and doing the check-in online. To make sure everything goes smoothly, booking vacations online also requires some attention on the security front. By following a few simple safety measures, you are all set for a wonderful trip.

Passport, vaccines, security

After checking that your passport is still valid, the first thing to do before booking the journey of your dreams is to make sure that your computer is ready for some online shopping action. Unfortunately, surfing the Internet without security software is these days a bit like choosing to travel to the middle of a yellow fever epidemic without having a vaccine.

The Internet has hundreds of thousands of contagious diseases, which have been specially designed by criminals to attack your computer, your privacy and your bank balance. So ensure your online wellbeing by protecting your computer with software like CenturyLink™ Online Security, which stops those pesky viruses from infecting your system.

The next security concerns are your Internet connection and browser. In two short sentences, don’t trust unsecured wireless networks with your credit card details because they can be intercepted by outsiders. And do keep clicking on those security updates which keep Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox (or whatever browser you are using) patched up against the viruses.

Diving in, staying safe

Now you are ready to dive online into the colorful coral reef of exciting travel offers. There are definitely great vacation deals to be found online, but it pays to keep an eye out for suspicious websites. Don’t start your vacation by getting ripped off before you have even left your living room.

Make sure your chosen travel agency is a reputable company by checking it has a real address and a customer service phone number that answers your call. A quick online search of the operator’s name should reveal any issues. It’s not unknown for travel companies to go out of business and leave their customers stranded in far-away places, so it’s better to be safe than sorry when booking your trip. Paying for your vacation by credit card usually provides some financial protection against such events, but it’s also important that you have appropriate travel insurance to cover your trip.

As you browse different vacation websites, don’t fill in the pop-up questionnaires that may appear, even if they are offering bargains. These only bring more spam to your email inbox and may also infect your computer with something nasty. The same goes for spam email messages; never click on their attachments or links, or buy anything from junk mail.

Small print and secure payments

Give yourself time to think over the different vacation options and shop around for the best deals. Being flexible about departure dates by a few days can make a big difference in what you pay for a vacation. Before making the payment, don’t forget to double check all the information about your chosen trip, including all the taxes and supplements, departure times and dates. It’s worth making the effort to read the boring small print in the ‘terms and conditions’ to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Take special care when it comes to making the payment. Reputable companies have a secure web page for taking your personal details, which you can identify from a closed padlock or an unbroken key symbol, or a web address that begins with https:// – that extra ‘s’ stands for secure.

It’s good practice to print out the confirmation emails and receipts from the operator in case of any problems. If you are traveling somewhere remote, leave copies of the most important documents with a friend and take one copy with you on the trip. Always check your credit card and bank statements after paying for your vacation. Also remember to do this after the vacation, especially if you have been using a credit card abroad, and notify your bank immediately if you spot something amiss.

Online away from home

Relax, you’re on vacation. Let your mind and body infuse with the new surroundings. But when you stroll cheerily into your hotel and think about using the computer in the lobby, don’t forget that those Internet viruses are still lurking behind the screen. Only this time you have no idea and no control over how secure the computer and the Internet connection is. So think twice before offering your credit card details to the local online crime syndicate. The same goes for your email passwords, online banking login details and other sensitive information.

Instead, set up a new email account that you can use during the vacation for keeping contact with family and friends (learn how to set up another CenturyLink account here). Also use this temporary email for booking local tours and other vacation activities. Even if it ends up on a spamming list, the problem does not affect your normal email.

If you are using a mobile phone abroad, keep in mind that the cost for calls and surfing the net is probably much more expensive than at home. Your phone may also be targeted by unfamiliar mobile viruses through sms messages or your phone’s Bluetooth connection. Installing security software before the trip is highly recommended. Also don’t give your phone to anyone for ‘tuning’ or new screen savers, because this is an easy way to get infected.

Laptop users should also not take risks with sending sensitive information over unsecured wireless networks. If using the web is an essential part of your vacation plans, then check that your hotel has its own secured wireless network before making a booking.

Have a safe and wonderful vacation, and don’t forget to send a postcard!

Courtesy of F-Secure