Summer officially starts in just a few days, so it's that time of year when people are trying to get away to spend time with loved ones on vacation.
More than half of people surveyed by digital security company McAfee say they spend at least an hour per day on internet-connected devices while they're supposed to be unwinding.
In March 2017, McAfee commissioned an online study of 9,500 people who use a connected device daily in Australia, France, Germany, the U.K. and the U.S. The survey included individuals between 18 and 55 split evenly by gender.
While 20-somethings were the most willing to unplug, they also experienced the most anxiety when they did unplug, Business Wire reports.
The survey found that 38 percent of people could not last a day on vacation without checking their work or personal email. Thirty-seven percent could not resist the compelling urge to upload Instagram or Facebook-worthy pictures and posts while traveling.
McAfee used the survey to impress vacationers with the need for secure connections, offering the following safety tips:
- Avoid using public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks. If you absolutely must connect to a public Wi-Fi network, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to keep your information private.
- Update your devices so you're not left open to security vulnerabilities in old software.
- Install cross-device security to stay clear of viruses and other unwanted malware.
- Use a device-locating app just in case you lose your connected device. Location applications can help you find, lock and even erase your device’s data in the event of theft or loss.
Read more at Business Wire's website here.
