Issue: Volume XXIII

HAVE LAPTOP, WILL TRAVEL  [Top Of Page]

Laptops are a lifeline that business travelers cannot do without. But for all their convenience, laptops have their own security considerations—well beyond full-out theft.

In a recent Harris Interactive survey of 601 laptop-using business travelers, 41 percent admitted to peeking at other passengers' laptop screens and 50 percent said they have caught others doing the same to them.

No sooner is the need identified than manufacturers jump to provide products for combating it, and so there are preventative remedies available:  

• A laptop shade is a portable, tunnel-like hood that completely covers the screen on all sides except from the user’s vantage point. Pros are that in addition to creating privacy, it also eliminates glare, improves visibility and reduces eyestrain; cons are that it is cumbersome-looking and also makes a clear statement to the entire world that you are working on something important and “secret,” potentially upping the temptation for others to try to find out what is on the screen. 
   
• 3M manufactures a host of temporary, soft-plastic privacy screens that polarize imagery so that it can only be viewed by a straight-on user. They are available in a variety of sizes to fit any laptop and are undetectable to the casual passerby.  

http://www.3m.com/
http://www.ergoindemand.com/
http://www.laptoptravel.com/

Wi-Fi Infringement  

If the prying eyes aren’t in the seat behind you, they very well may be sitting 100 feet away in your airport wi-fi hot zone. 

Providers of wi-fi portals in coffee shops, hotels, bookstores, airports and other public locations (mostly AT&T and T-Mobile, who host 15,000 wi-fi locations across the U.S.) do not require encryption and leave you unprotected from hackers and “piggybackers” to your signal.  

Any would-be eavesdropper with a wi-fi equipped laptop can download free monitoring programs and then go to town watching your every move on the internet, including user names, passwords, banking information and company data. Some hackers even broadcast bogus AT&T or T-Mobile connection signals to capture the data of their victims. 

MICROEXPRESSIONS AT THE DEPOT [Top Of Page]

The Department of Homeland Security has started employing specially trained security personnel—called Behavior Detection Officers—at airports, train stations and bus depots around the U.S. to watch the body language and minute facial cues of passengers for signs of bad intentions.

Behavior detection officers work in pairs, and are integrated among regular personnel. Typically, one officer sizes up passengers openly while the other seems to be performing routine security duty or ticket check. A passenger who arouses suspicion, whether by facial “microexpressions,” social interaction or body language gets subtle—but more serious—scrutiny, including inspection, questioning and referral to law enforcement.

The use of "micro-expressions" to identify hidden emotions began nearly 30 years ago when researchers studied videotapes of people telling lies. In the slow-motion playback, they noticed that distinct facial movements—often fleeting flickers—accompanied attempts to conceal emotion. 

The new behavior detection strategy model has been time-tested and successful in Israel, and has already shown great potential in the U.S. system, having netted drug carriers, illegal immigrants and terrorism suspects. More than a dozen U.S. airports are already populated with behavior detection officers, and the TSA says it hopes to have 500 officers in place by the end of 2008.

Another DHS initiative is the development of automated passenger screening using videocameras and computers to measure and analyze heart rate, respiration, body temperature and verbal responses as well as facial micro-expressions. This system would be used at transportation terminals as well as for port security and special-event screening.

Though the plan has been criticized because of difficulties in how to recognize the ways that different cultures express emotions, hurdles in computer technology development and civil-liberties concerns, DHS is still seeking proposals from scientists to make this plan are reality, setting the deadline for submission at August 31 of 2007.

EXTENDED TRAVEL CLOT RISKS [Top Of Page]

The World Health Organization (WHO) released a study this summer indicating that the chances of developing potentially deadly blood clots (also known as deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) double after traveling for four hours or more, and that 1 in 6,000 long-haul passengers is at risk.

The risk is unrelated to method of travel—train, bus, car or plane—but rather is based on the commonality of limited mobility and sitting for long periods. Particularly vulnerable are:

• Long-legged people who are jammed into economy class seating
• Short-legged people whose feet do not touch the ground
• People suffering from obesity
• Women taking birth control pills
• Frequent travelers
• Travelers on very long journeys
• People with known history of blood clots
• Travelers with varicose veins
• Pregnant women
• Cancer, stroke or advanced age
• Smokers
• Medical patients being transported with lower extremity trauma, catheterization, rib fractures or abdomen surgery

Although the 1 in 6,000 DVT ratio is relatively low and includes cases with small or asymptomatic clots, it still means an average of one person is affected for every 20 long-haul flights carrying 300 passengers.

Many blood clot sufferers are asymptomatic. When symptoms develop, they include swelling of the foot, ankle, or calf on one side, sometimes accompanied by pain. If a blood clot travels to the lungs, the chief symptoms are chest pain and difficulty breathing. Travelers experiencing any of these ailments should immediately seek medical attention, as clots can “move” around the body and cause serious problems and even death. 

To reduce your chance of developing blood clots during travel:

• Get up and take a walk every so often
• Do not sit with crossed legs
• Store luggage so that it does not take up leg room
• Move your ankles and feet in circular motions to stretch the calf muscles
• Periodically contract and relax your leg muscles while sitting
• Avoid taking sleeping pills during travel
• Don’t smoke or drink too much alcohol during travel
• Avoid wearing tight or restrictive clothing
• Drink plenty of water

The leisurely vacation to the Dominican Republic that Brad*, an orthopedic surgeon, was enjoying with his wife, Sarah, and 2 ½year old daughter, Emily, suddenly took a turn scary enough for a Bram Stoker novel. Emily awoke from a short nap in the adjacent room and complained to her parents of a stomach ache and pain in her leg. Brad inspected his daughter and found a small, unusual bite with peripheral redness on her leg. He then inspected her room and determined the culprit: a bat. 

Knowing that bats are potential carriers of various infectious diseases, including deadly rabies, Brad wasted no time in calling Assist America. We urged him to take Emily—and himself and Sarah—for immediate evaluation to a nearby medical facility, and he complied. Unfortunately, that hospital could offer only the animal-based rabies vaccine, which would not be compatible with the follow-up boosters all three would have to receive back in the U.S. It was clear they would have to go home without delay. 

Assist America arranged for the entire family to fly home immediately via commercial airline to commence necessary rabies treatment. All three arrived safely back in Minnesota and received the prescribed series of shots. Another happy ending thanks to Assist America!

*names have been changed for privacy

SAFE PASSAGE FOR YOUR LUGGAGE  [Top Of Page]

FACT: Due to tighter carry-on security measures the U.S. airport baggage-checking system is severely overburdened.  

FACT: U.S. airlines permanently lost an average of 6.73 checked bags per 1,000 last year, equating to 240,000 pieces of luggage.

FACT: 90% of bags that travelers report lost when they land are found by the airlines and returned to their owners within 48 hours.

Nobody wants to arrive in Albany only to find their luggage is in Albuquerque. How can you help ensure safe passage of your bags, and what do you do if they get diverted to Detroit?

Arrive Early at the Airport
Get to the airport two hours early as advised by the TSA and check your bags immediately. Bags checked less than an hour before a flight are more prone to mishandling.

Uniqueness Counts
More than 50% of flyers have black bags, so choosing a different color for your luggage makes it easier to spot and gives the airlines more motivation to find it if it goes missing. If you only have black bags, dress them up with a colorful ribbon, handle cover or striping tape to set them apart from the masses. Keep in mind that overtly pricey luggage (Louis Vuitton for example) can draw the attention of criminals.

Make a Bee-Line for Baggage Claim
Bags can be delivered safely through the flights only to be stolen at the claim carousel. When you get off the plane, proceed without delay to the baggage claim area so that your bag is never without supervision.

Don’t Skip On Tips
It is impossible to guarantee the scrupulousness of any given skycap. Help ensure their full cooperation by tipping generously: $1-$2 per suitcase at minimum, $5 for extra insurance.  

If Your Bag is Lost
Go directly to the airline’s baggage service office, usually located not far from the carousel, and report your bag missing—if you wait more than 4 hours your claim can be denied. Don’t leave the airport without reporting your loss and getting a printed claim, along with the name of the airline rep you spoke to and the phone number to call to follow up.

Remember that Assist America offers assistance with lost luggage, so always carry your membership card and call if you need help!

ETIQUETTE TIPS FOR TRAVEL ABROAD [Top Of Page]

Put your best foot forward in any culture with these tips.

Argentina:  It is considered rude to ask what people do for a living; wait until they offer the information.

Bahrain:  Impatience is an insult. Always accept tea if offered.

Cambodia:  Don’t pass anything over the head of a Cambodian; the head is considered sacred.

China:  Take care with your chopsticks: it is rude to wave them, point them, tap them on a bowl or stick them vertically into your food.

Dominican Republic:  Maintain good eye contact at all times.

France:  Don’t appear overly friendly at business meetings.  Never drink white wine after red.

Greece:  When hailing a taxi, make sure your palm is facing inward with closed fingers.

India:  Winking is seen as a sexual gesture.

Japan:  Treat business cards gently—don’t write on them or shove them in pockets.

Malaysia:  Always respond in writing to invitations.

Mexico:  If visiting a business associate’s home, don’t bring up business unless the host does.

Philippines:  Beware that the word “hostess” translates to “prostitute” in the Philippines.

Singapore:  Any gifts must be given to the entire company, not to a single person, which is considered a bribe.

Spain:  Always request your check; it is considered rude for the waiter to bring it without the customer asking.

 Vietnam:  Shake hands only with someone of the same gender if they initiate it; physical contact between opposing genders in public is frowned upon.

For the latest, up-to-date information regarding key regions, click on the links below:

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