International Travel Security, SIUE Travel Laptop Program, & Off Campus Remote Access
Before you travel be sure to consider the following:
- Apply for 2-Factor VPN access before requesting a travel laptop from ITS. This will allow you to securely access everything you need in association with your work at SIUE. In some countries this will be the only way you can access your SIUE resources remotely. Start here to see if you need VPN access or to update your existing access to 2-factor: https://www.siue.edu/its/fac_staff/vpn.shtml
- Before you travel and especially if you will be using software that needs to be loaded onto an SIUE travel laptop please review the SIUE export control process: https://www.siue.edu/compliance/export-controls/index.shtml
- To obtain an SIUE travel laptop, please contact the ITS Helpdesk (618.650.5500, help@siue.edu) and give 10 business days of advance notice. Once ready, laptops can be checked out/in at the ITS help desk located in the basement of Lovejoy Library, Room 0005. Any software load requests will have to be cleared through the SIU Export Control Office ( 618.650.2476).
- Upon returning to the US, your eID password will need to be changed as soon as possible. https://oitam.isg.siue.edu/~eid/cgi-bin/change_password
International Travel Security
Faculty and staff need to be mindful of what they take with them into any foreign country. Recent trends have shown American researchers are being targeted and having confidential information stolen. The FBI has been adamant that any electronic device taken into that country will be viewed and most likely will have information stolen. These are some guidelines gathered from available FBI resources for faculty and staff to follow while traveling abroad for research or other matters.
Device Recommendations
Before Your Trip:
- If you can do without the device, do not take it
- Sanitize your device of sensitive information; move information to external storage and leave it at home.
- If possible, use a different email and phone while traveling; you may need to have the university generate a new email for you
- The FBI recommends that cell phone and email usage be kept at a minimum or not at all
- Register with this website to keep abreast of issues in the area you are traveling: https://step.state.gov/step/
- Save the Bureau of Consular Affairs number into your phone when traveling outside of the US: 1-202-501-4444
- Establish your point of contact
During Your Trip:
- Avoid placing internet addresses ("favorites") on any laptop you take
- Take only that info which you will present or discuss
- Make sure your device is password or passcode protected
- Do not continue to use a device that begins to run slowly, or acts strangely after taking it overseas
- After each use, clear your browser
- If devices are stolen, report it immediately to the US embassy
- Use a secure VPN connection for email
- Stay alert of your surroundings
- Do not travel alone
- Recognize that your personal belongings may be searched several times
- Know that not all conference attendees with whom you come in contact with are genuinely interested in your research; some may be inquiring on behalf of another country or researcher
- Obtain business cards of all personnel with whom you have extensive contact while traveling
After Your Trip:
- Change all of your passwords and security codes upon your return to the country
- Have the system professionally analyzed for viruses or spyware after travel
- Report any unusual circumstances, conversations, or incidents to your department manager and to the FBI
SIUE Device Usage and Policies
This advice and information comes from the combined efforts of our CIO and CISO of Information Technology Services. Their main concern is protecting the University's cyber-assets and intellectual property. There is a form that must be filled out, signed by the traveler, and signed by ORP Associate Dean for Research. Contact the Graduate School at 650-3010. Link to form - Professional Temporary Export License Exception Form.
You must also bring your laptop to ITS to have a tech run Identity Finder on the device to make sure that you are not taking a laptop with any stored personal information. This procedure will take at least a day, so please bring it to ITS as soon as possible. ITS needs to know what software you have on your laptop to make sure it is compliant with the licensing when taken out of the country. If you have any other questions please contact Information Technology Service at 618-650-5500.
To Request a Clean Laptop for Travel
ITS discourages you from logging into your computer at the University - you will likely infect your computer and our network. You should not check your email unless necessary. If you must, you need to log into the university VPN first (websafe.siue.edu) and then connect to https://office365.siue.edu. To request access to Websafe VPN go to http://www.siue.edu/its/fac_staff/vpn.shtml
You will be able to use your login to Websafe VPN. https://websafe.siue.edu (you may want to log into this prior to leaving the country). Once logged into Websafe you will then click on Network Connect. There will be several window pop up that you will have to run. After you are completely into Network Connect, open another tab and type https://office365.siue.edu into the address bar to check your email.
To keep our network or your desktop from becoming compromised:
- Do not log in to any SIUE systems that may contain faculty, student or staff records.
- Do not remote into your desktop. This option should be disabled while you are out of the country.
- Make sure any documents that you are taking do not contain any student, faculty or staff records.
- Keep track of the accounts that you check while traveling. As soon as you return to the U.S., change those passwords.
- You should assume that your communications (including Skype) will be monitored. You have to assume that whatever devices you take will be compromised.
- If you are taking a phone, it is recommended you take a throw away phone. We have heard from the FBI that the device does not even have to be powered on to be compromised.