Cell Phone Recommendations

Personal cell phones align most closely with the guidance given for Scenario 1. However, these are some recommended practices for traveling with your phone:

  • Consider getting a separate phone for international travel
  • Contact your phone company and find out what options are for international travel plans or putting plan on hold
  • Create a back up and then do a and other UIC tool apps
  • Ensure your phone has a unique factory reset of your phone before you travel – travel—do another reset when you get back and then reload from your pre-trip back up
  • Remove biometric (face, fingerprint) log ins. Instead use a passcode to prevent use of biometrics to unlock your device when crossing the border. Law enforcement cannot require you to enter a passcode but can use your biometric sensors.
  • Remove Outlook, Box, Blackboard passcode or phrase
  • Disable auto-join WiFi and Bluetooth when not in use
  • Avoid public/hotel WiFi for sensitive tasks, use eduroam/University VPN when necessary
  • Turn on 2-Factor authentication
  • Log out of social media websites before crossing borders
  • Install a VPN

Checklist

Cell Phone Recommendations

Before Travel

  • Change your University password
  • Review account login history for anomalies
  • Re-enable biometric unlock if used previously

UIC Travel Cell Phone Option

For researchers traveling internationally to conduct University business, UIC offers a temporary travel cell phone (iPhone or Android) that can be requested. These devices are pre-configured with essential security tools and restrict access to local cloud clients while still allowing web-based access to University services.

  • Request a loaner cell phone for approved travel to certain high-risk destinations.
  • Phones are configured with Duo 2FA and University security settings, but do not allow local installation of Outlook, Box, OneDrive, or Google Drive clients — users must access these services through a secure web portal. (University of Illinois System)
  • Requests should be submitted 2–3 weeks prior to travel
  • Maximum loan out for 1 month
  • Researchers are strongly discouraged from storing sensitive or personal data on loaner devices.

After Returning Home

  • Change your University password
  • Review account login history for anomalies

Alternative 2-Factor Authentication method when not traveling with a smartphone.

  • Purchase a Hardware Token through the UIC Webstore – Physical authentication device that generates a one-time passcode (OTP) for Duo 2-Factor Authentication (2FA).
  • Does not rely on cellular service, WiFi, or mobile apps, making it useful in areas with limited connectivity.