Some of us head for warmer locations while our neighbors hunker down for a typical Maine winter.

If you will be traveling, here are some tips to make sure that your identity and your devices stay secure.

- Data diet. You probably don’t need to travel with all the data that you use everyday at home. Back up the data you won’t need to a cloud service and take only the data with you that you will need during your stay.

- Lock the device. If your device is going to be out of your sight (say, while you’re sleeping or bathing) lock it down to prevent anyone else from accessing the information on it.

- Check the connection. Be careful about automatically connecting to Wi-Fi networks at hotels or other public locations. Phony hotspots can capture your information and some hotel Wi-Fi networks are hosts for malware.

- Public computers. If at all possible, try to avoid using these. If not possible, be very careful about what type of information you are providing to them.

- Unsafe apps. Not all apps are what they appear to be. Make sure that you have carefully researched any apps you download.

- Across the border. If your travel plans take you to another country, please remember that the laws of the country you are visiting will prevail in matters of privacy and security. Take a moment to understand what this might mean to you if you plan to use a cell phone or tablet when you are traveling.

-  Current software. Make sure that you have installed all current software updates for your devices.

-  Pull the plug. We hope you don’t need to do this, but if your cell phone is lost or stolen, you can wipe the information on it by using software that is available so that your information doesn’t get into the wrong hands. Search for “remote wipe” software capabilities and set them up before leaving on your vacation.

-  Avoid social media. The thieves checking out your social media posts will be thrilled to learn that no one is in your home. Avoid posting information about your travels until you return.

- Mailbox clutter. Ask a friend or the post office to collect and hold your household mail until you return. If you receive a daily newspaper, discontinue service until you return from your vacation. 

Jane Carpenter is the founder of Maine Identity Services, LLC which provides data breach and identity theft assistance to individuals, organizations and law enforcement personnel through its books, seminars and police materials. For more information about the company and its products, visit www.meidhelp.com