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Personal Security

Personal security is an issue but not something to be overly concerned about in most countries. Take the precautions that you would at home. Use your instincts and be diligent and you will keep you and your belongings safe. Stick to the tourist areas in the first instance while you acclimatise yourself to a new city. Then you will be

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Personal security is an issue but not something to be overly concerned about in most countries. Take the precautions that you would at home. Use your instincts and be diligent and you will keep you and your belongings safe. Stick to the tourist areas in the first instance while you acclimatise yourself to a new city. Then you will be more comfortable venturing further afield. You will know when you cross a street if it feels safe. Of course there are some cities you would not venture out in without your host or a driver, guide or translator. Johannesburg and many cities in South America are examples of cities with security issues. Cities in China and cities in South East Asia are mostly perfectly safe.

If you venture to countries beyond the mainstream, you will need to be aware of and sensitive to local customs. “Bribing” may be expected (India and Kazakhstan). What might seem like an insult to you may not be. Australians love black humour and often say the reverse of what they mean. Countries with extreme problems politically are not easy to travel in without the appropriate supervision. Try to avoid them. Iraq and Iran are two examples. If you must go there, research the appropriate security measures you will need and put them in place.

or the relevant equivalent in your home country will inform you of any travel warnings and your Travel Agent should be across these also. You can register at these websites and be emailed any updates and alerts for destinations that you nominate. Take a look at http://smartraveller.gov.au/guide/business/Pages/default.aspx for advice for business travelers.

Obey the laws wherever you go. Not only will this keep you safer, it is respectful.

Hot Tip:

Try to act like a local rather than a tourist. Depending which city you are in you may want to consider carrying a small amount of cash only and one or two credit cards. Leave the rest (with your expensive wallet) back in your hotel room.

  • Photocopy the local area map from a guidebook rather than carrying the guidebook or use the map on your phone.
  • Know the general route (main street names, etc) to where you need to go in a taxi. This way the taxi driver will think you have been there before. This will avoid the 10 minute trip across town taking 25 minutes (the tourist run) and costing you accordingly. Or take an Uber (or equivalent) and ask the driver to follow the map that he is provided on the tablet/phone app.
Hot Tip:

If you absolutely cannot avoid going to a country that the Department of Foreign Affairs (or equivalent) recommends against, make sure you notify the nearest embassy, high commission or consulate to register your being present in that country and your contact details in case of an emergency. You can also register your contact details at www.dfat.gov.au or the equivalent in your country.

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Luggage Security

Click here for more information on luggage security

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Click here for more information on luggage security

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Laptop Security

Laptop security is a challenge at any time and especially when traveling. The same can be said for USB sticks and external hard drives. It is interesting to note that most hotels that will store luggage will not store laptops these days. This is because they cannot ensure their secure storage so you need to be diligent. The cost of

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Laptop security is a challenge at any time and especially when traveling. The same can be said for USB sticks and external hard drives. It is interesting to note that most hotels that will store luggage will not store laptops these days. This is because they cannot ensure their secure storage so you need to be diligent. The cost of the physical laptop is one thing. The value of the data and information stored on it is another, and probably of higher value. For your company, this may represent a major sensitivity around competitor information, strategic information or privacy information.

Make sure these do not leave your site. If you are carrying confidential information, there is software available which may be worth considering. New laptops may have integrated fingerprint software or password protection capability which is a great way to protect your data and information while you are traveling. This functionality can be added to most laptops that do not have it built in.

No matter what, make sure you back up regularly so at least you have a copy of your work but really this is not enough when you are entrusted by your company or your own business to professionally protect information for many reasons.

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Phone Security

Phone security is paramount as your phone is your lifeline to work, family, friends and more. Be sure to carry your phone carefully so as not to lose it. Keep it in the same place and get in the habit of putting back in the same place. This could be your handbag, purse, pocket, laptop bag, wherever. Just be sure

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Phone security is paramount as your phone is your lifeline to work, family, friends and more. Be sure to carry your phone carefully so as not to lose it. Keep it in the same place and get in the habit of putting back in the same place. This could be your handbag, purse, pocket, laptop bag, wherever. Just be sure you can easily and quickly find it.

Especially if you are travelling internationally, make sure you have the telephone number of your carrier somewhere handy so in the unlikely case that you do lose your telephone, you can call and have it cancelled immediately. Getting home without your telephone would be bad enough. Let alone coming home to an invoice for many hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars for the calls or data someone used after you lost your telephone but before it was blocked would only make it worse.

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USB Sticks

USB Sticks (sometimes called memory sticks or USB flash drives) are a security concern especially because they are so small. Files can be password protected. You should consider to password protect files when carrying highly sensitive information or large quantities of information. Competitively sensitive data and files should also be protected.
Like your phone, keep them in the same

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USB Sticks (sometimes called memory sticks or USB flash drives) are a security concern especially because they are so small. Files can be password protected. You should consider to password protect files when carrying highly sensitive information or large quantities of information. Competitively sensitive data and files should also be protected.

Like your phone, keep them in the same place and get in the habit of putting them back in the same place. This could be your handbag, purse, pocket, laptop bag, wherever. Just remember to always keep them in the same place so you will always find them quickly.

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Hotel Security

Hotel Security should be considered carefully. Lock your door when you stay in a hotel and put the chain (or other lock) on the door. This way you will know that you are the only person who can let anyone in. Remember that all hotel staff have a master key. They can gain access to your room but the chain

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Hotel Security should be considered carefully. Lock your door when you stay in a hotel and put the chain (or other lock) on the door. This way you will know that you are the only person who can let anyone in. Remember that all hotel staff have a master key. They can gain access to your room but the chain on the door gives you control of who enters. If you forget your key, ask reception for another key. They should always ask for photo ID prior to giving you a new room key.

4 and 5 star hotel staff will announce themselves when they knock on the door, For example, if you order room service, they will knock on the door and announce “Room Service”. Use the peep hole in the door to check who is knocking. It will be obvious that it is housekeeping because they will be holding laundry or whatever else you have ordered. Only open the door to some one you are expecting or a uniformed staff member.

If you have not asked for a service and someone knocks, check through the peep hole. Check if you recognize the hotel uniform. Through the door ask who is there and expect a prompt answer and if you are unsure, call the department they say they are from and ask if you should be expecting someone from that department to visit your room at that time. If in doubt, call reception or security for assistance.

While it is highly unlikely that a stranger will knock on your door, it is better to be safe than sorry. While it is highly unlikely, it has happened that a room can be accidentally allocated to another customer on check in. This is more likely in hotels that still use regular room keys and whose computer check in systems are not world class. The worst experience that you are likely to have is someone to burst into the room in the middle of the night having been given the key to your room. They will be as surprised and you and it could be embarrassing all around. Having the chain (or other door lock) bolted will at least keep them on the other side of the door!

There are cities in the world and neighborhoods in cities that are not safe to venture into. Your host with the company you work for, your customer or the reception or concierge desk at the hotel will be able to give advice on this. They will be able to assist you with getting to where you need to go safely if you are in one of these cities.

Click here to learn more about Fire and Other Emergencies

Click here to learn more on Security in general.

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Airport Security

Click here for more information on Airport security

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Act like a Local

Try to act like a local rather than a tourist. Depending which city you are in you may want to consider carrying a small amount of cash only and one or two credit cards. Leave the rest (with your expensive wallet) back in your hotel room.

Photocopy the local area map from a guidebook rather than carrying the

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Try to act like a local rather than a tourist. Depending which city you are in you may want to consider carrying a small amount of cash only and one or two credit cards. Leave the rest (with your expensive wallet) back in your hotel room.

  • Photocopy the local area map from a guidebook rather than carrying the guidebook or use the map on your phone.
  • Know the general route (main street names, etc) to where you need to go in a taxi. This way the taxi driver will think you have been there before. This will avoid the 10 minute trip across town taking 25 minutes (the tourist run) and costing you accordingly. Or take an Uber (or equivalent) and ask the driver to follow the map that he is provided on the tablet/phone app.
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Women Traveling Solo

Women traveling solo should take care. If you are worried about your security and depending where you are traveling to, some extra tips you may wish to consider include:

Do not flaunt your wealth – leave the expensive jewelry and designer handbag back in the hotel safe while you are out walking, sight seeing or shopping or better still

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Women traveling solo should take care. If you are worried about your security and depending where you are traveling to, some extra tips you may wish to consider include:

  • Do not flaunt your wealth – leave the expensive jewelry and designer handbag back in the hotel safe while you are out walking, sight seeing or shopping or better still do not bring it.
  • Arrive in daylight so you can get your bearings prior to being out in a new city at night.
  • When you out socially, wear a wedding ring to ward off unwanted advances.
  • You are out on your own at night you need to keep your wits about you so tonight is not the night for drinking excessively.
  • Opening up the tourist map in the middle of the street is probably not ideal.
  • Bring a photocopy of the small map in a guide book and find a more discreet place to look at it or use the map on your phone.
  • Act and dress appropriately – be respectful of local customs and try to “blend in” .
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Emergency Numbers

Emergency numbers are taken for granted in your home country. In USA, Americans know the emergency number to call for help is 911. In Australian, Australians know to call 000. And here lies the challenge. The emergency numbers for help are different in each country and in some countries, there is a different number to call for police than fire

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Emergency numbers are taken for granted in your home country. In USA, Americans know the emergency number to call for help is 911. In Australian, Australians know to call 000. And here lies the challenge. The emergency numbers for help are different in each country and in some countries, there is a different number to call for police than fire brigade and another one still for ambulance. What happens if you need to call for help?

You can ask someone else to help. You will most likely have your phone with you so you can call for help also. Here is an easy look up tool to find what number to call in the country you are in. Just select the country in the drop down screen and the appropriate number or numbers will be revealed. Emergency Contacts

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