As international travel becomes ever more digitally connected, the problem of device security and privacy is more pressing than ever—especially when crossing borders. Digital rights experts and privacy advocates recommend two main strategies: keeping a clean traveling device or preparing your main phone by wiping sensitive data.
Should You Have a Clean Travel Phone?
For the privacy-conscious traveler, having an entirely separate phone for travel might appear the best choice. But security experts say that being too extreme with a “squeaky clean” or bare phone could raise suspicion when crossing borders.
Matt Mitchell, founder of CryptoHarlem, a nonprofit organization that works with digital security and privacy, further explains:
You have to ‘seed’ the device. Use the phone for a few hours or a day. It just can’t be clean clean. That’s weird.
He even recommends that you create a standalone social media account for your trips—basically a travel “finsta” (fake Instagram). The plan is to present a realistic online persona. “How are you going to say ‘I don’t use any social media’? Most people have at least a few profiles,” Mitchell says.
Don’t Ditch Encryption
Amnesty International’s Cyr also warns against using a non-smartphone or “dumb phone” as your travel device. While they have a low profile, such phones cannot support secure apps like Signal or WhatsApp, which are required for encrypted communication. That leaves your data more vulnerable.
Travel Device vs. Your Main Phone
If buying a second device is too pricey, you can also protect your privacy by getting ready your main smartphone prior to departure. Mohammed Al-Maskati, Access Now’s digital security expert, gives simple advice:
Uninstall unused applications
Backup and delete sensitive photos and messages
Logout or delete accounts that may be at risk
He especially stresses deleting dating apps or LGBTQ-related apps in places where that can lead to profiling or legal problems.
Steps to Secure Your Information
| Step | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Use a separate SIM | Avoid linking the device to your main phone number |
| Create a travel social account | A realistic online presence avoids suspicion |
| Use encrypted messaging apps | Stick to apps like Signal for safer communication |
| Backup and reset if necessary | Use your own device, but wipe it and restore later |
| Logout of cloud services | Ensure you’re not exposing cloud data during inspection |
One of the biggest mistakes to do without is remain logged in to your cloud account (Google or Apple). Even if you delete the material from the phone, authorities can ask you to log into the cloud and deliver the content.
Conclusion
No matter how you travel, for activism, work, or play, digital protection can guard you from involuntary data exposure at borders. Responsible scrubbing of your main phone or the use of a travel phone with limited access are both reasonable options—but neither is without flaws.
Digital privacy really starts with an awareness. Take the time to evaluate what you really need on the road—and what you can do without.