Research the country you are traveling to and see if they have sanctions or local laws that affect your BGSU access. When traveling outside the US, you may be unable to access your BGSU accounts due to restrictions placed on the Duo mobile app or tokens by the United States Government Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC). Such restrictions are outlined in the Sanctions Program and Country Information list. Please review this list prior to your travel.

ITS has Two Factor Authentication tokens available for loan to use as your primary authentication device when traveling internationally. Two Factor tokens eliminate the need to rely on a mobile device while outside of the United States. To obtain a loaner token, please contact the ITS Service Desk.   

Does Duo Mobile work in China? Read the article.

In addition to Duo restrictions, some software is export controlled and therefore subject to review prior to being installed on devices being used for international travel.

Contact ITS to verify that you have a secure backup of your data on your university device so that it can be recovered in the event that your device becomes lost, stolen or compromised while traveling.

When traveling abroad it is important to take the minimum needed in order to get your work done. Use the information below to determine what to bring (and how to prepare it) and what NOT to bring on your trip.

Computers

If traveling with a computer, please be sure to:

• Verify that your computer browser is current via Qualys' BrowserCheck service.
• Remove any documents containing Limited Access or Restricted data from your computer.

Mobile Devices

If need a mobile device while traveling, consider a loaner phone borrowed in the country, an unlocked phone with a local SIM card, or a phone you buy/rent at the airport or hotel when you arrive. If you must use your own phone, please:

• Back it up before you leave
• Enroll in an international rate plan to avoid hefty roaming charges.
• Save your data, reset to factory defaults and restore your backup when you return.

Items/Data NOT to Bring When Traveling Abroad

Verify your anti-virus software is up to date and then run a full scan of your devices to validate that they are free of malicious software (malware) prior to traveling. For assistance, contact ITS.

Make sure to authenticate using the passcode generated in the Duo Mobile App because you can utilize this when your device is offline. For more information, see this article. 

Only use secure internet connections. Cellular carriers' networks are the best choice in terms of security.

• Don't use free wireless connections.
• Don't use public computers to access or enter sensitive data.
• Expect that any computer network you use while traveling may be insecure. This includes networks you may use while staying with friends and family, attending a conference/other business trip or visiting cyber-cafes, libraries or hotels. 
• Turn off wireless and bluetooth on your devices while you are not using them.
• Don't download/install software updates on hotel internet connections or public Wi-Fi. For more information on this topic, review this FBI advisory.
• Understand that any government can log your activity or copy data from your computer without your knowledge or consent.

If your device is lost or stolen, contact ITS immediately to report the incident and promptly change your password(s). It is also important to report the incident to the local authorities and to request a copy of the report.

• Keep your devices with you at all times or secured in hotel safe.
• Don't travel with obvious laptop bags.

When you open your browser, switch to a new private browsing tab/window.

These can be used to transfer malware to your device or retrieve data from it. The safest option is to find an outlet and use your own charger.

Do not use USB storage devices or any other kind of removable media that you receive or find while on your trip. These devices can be used to gain access to your system.

If you will not be using your device for an extended period of time, power it off.

Change your BGSU password ASAP. This will prevent anyone who might have hacked into your computer from gaining access to the BGSU network.

BGSU Passwords Information

Before connecting to the BGSU network, run the same malware and anti-virus program you used before your trip. If infections are detected, take the recommended steps to clean up the device.