Summer holidays are a chance to switch off, but our digital lives rarely take the same break. Travelling often means connecting to unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks, downloading new apps, scanning QR codes, and sharing more than usual on social media. By the time we return home, we may have accumulated more digital clutter than we realise.
The (unfortunate) end of summer is therefore a good opportunity for a simple cybersecurity reset. Just as we unpack our suitcases, clear our inboxes and get back into our usual routines, a few small digital habits can help us start the new season more securely.
Start with the updates you have been postponing
Software updates are easy to dismiss, but these updates are not only about new features or design changes. They regularly include security patches addressing vulnerabilities identified since the previous version.
Take a few minutes to check your phone, computer, browser and frequently used applications. Where possible, enabling automatic updates can make this one less thing to remember throughout the year.
The same principle applies to applications you no longer use. Removing unused applications, and reviewing the permissions granted to those you keep, is an easy way to reduce unnecessary access to your data.
Check the keys to your most important accounts
Rather than routinely changing every password, focus on whether your passwords are unique and sufficiently strong. Reusing the same password across several services means that one compromised account can potentially put others at risk. A password manager can make unique passwords considerably easier to manage.
Multi-factor authentication adds another important layer of protection. If it is available for an important account and you have not activated it yet, your post-holiday reset is a good excuse to do so.
It is also worth checking your recovery information. Is the email address associated with the account still active? Is your recovery phone number correct? Small details are much easier to fix now than when you are trying to recover an account.
Your summer may have left a bigger digital footprint than you think
Travel has become an increasingly digital experience. Flights, accommodation, restaurant reservations, tickets, maps and payments can all pass through our phones. That convenience can also mean sharing information with a long list of services along the way.
There is no need to become suspicious of every digital service you used. Simply take a moment to look at what has accumulated. Delete accounts or apps you know you will not use again. Forget Wi-Fi networks you no longer need. Review location, camera, microphone and notification permissions. Check which services are connected to your main online accounts.
Good cybersecurity does not always require sophisticated tools. Often, it starts with knowing where your data is, who can access it and whether that access is still necessary.
Think twice before posting the holiday photo dump
For many of us, returning from holiday also means finally posting the pictures. Before sharing them, it is worth looking beyond what is in the foreground. Booking references, addresses, work badges, car number plates and other personal information can easily appear in photographs without being the intended subject.
Location information deserves similar attention. Social media platforms and devices offer different options for sharing or storing location data, and reviewing these settings periodically can help you decide how much information you actually want attached to your content.
The aim is not to stop sharing your summer memories. It is simply to make sure you are sharing what you intended to share.
Cybersecurity is an everyday skill
Cybersecurity is often discussed in terms of sophisticated technologies, specialist teams and large-scale threats. All of these matter. But cyber resilience also depends on thousands of much smaller decisions made every day by people across organisations and society.
This broader understanding of cybersecurity skills is also relevant to WEM Cyber. The project brings together organisations across Europe to strengthen cybersecurity capacity through knowledge exchange, mentoring, training and cross-sector mobility, supporting women researchers and professionals as they develop and apply their expertise.
The end of summer does not require a complete digital overhaul. A few updates, a quick account check, some digital decluttering and a little extra attention when returning to a busy inbox are already a good start.
Consider it the cybersecurity equivalent of unpacking your suitcase.
