Holiday Security
Protect yourself and your belongings whilst staying away from home in hotels with these useful tips.
Hotel Key Cards
Have you ever wondered what's on your magnetic key card? Well it could include:
• Your name
• Your partial home address
• Your room number
• Your check-in and out dates
• Your credit card number and expiry date
If you return your hotel key card to the front desk your personal information could be accessible by simply scanning the card in a scanner. Using a scanning device a person could access the information via a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense.
Hotels may not always erase the information on these cards until the card is re-issued to the next hotel guest. At this time, the new guest's information is electronically 'overwritten' on the card and the previous guest's information is erased. BUT until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it may be languishing in a drawer with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!
So...
Keep your hotel card, take it home with you or destroy it. Don't leave it behind in the room or room wastebasket and avoid returning it to the hotel. Hotels and guesthouses will not charge you for the card and you'll be sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily lifted off with a simple scanning device card reader.
For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not throw it in an airport bin, take it home and destroy it by cutting it up through the electronic information strip.
If you have a small magnet, pass it across the magnetic strip several times, then try it in the door, it will not work. The card information will be erased.
For more information on how to secure your house whilst you are away on holiday please click here
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