GPS-enabled devices are making it easier than ever to keep your accounts and valuables safe. Steve Dinneen looks into the best gadgets to give you peace of mind.

If business travel is a way of life, security should be your number-one priority. Tech experts agree that cyber security will be the defining trend of 2017; for every connected device that makes your life a little easier, there’s a scammer hoping to take advantage.

On a personal level this can mean major headaches, but if you’re abroad for work, security lapses could be worth millions – or, at very least, your job.

Thankfully the tech industry is fighting back, coming up with ever more secure – and increasingly stylish – ways to protect yourself. The explosion of GPS-enabled devices means now you can be alerted if you walk absent-mindedly away from your suitcase, and track the location of your iPhone across continents. You can make sure your contactless payment cards aren’t being used to raid the contents of your bank account, and check that your home is safe from the comfort of your hotel room (and if you spot an intruder, even yell obscenities at them over wifi).

Technology may be the problem, but it’s also the solution – here are ten gadgets for your next trip…

WOCKET

Second only to having your passport stolen, on my list of travel headaches is having your wallet nicked. The Wocket smart wallet is designed to make sure that never happens. It allows you to securely upload details of every credit, debit and store card you own on to the wallet-sized device, and transfer them at will on to a removable card, which you can use to pay for things. Select the account you need on the screen, use the built-in biometric voice activation to transfer the details and you’re good to go. If someone steals it, they won’t be able to break into it, but you will still have to buy another one.

BLUESMART ONE

This is the smart suitcase you never knew you needed. The Bluesmart One isn’t only stylish, it’s also packed with tech to make your journey stress-free. The carry-on bag includes a built-in battery that allows you to power your phone on the go, with enough juice for six full charges from its two USB ports. It has a digital scale to ensure you don’t have to pay excess baggage charges, a GPS location tracker so you can use its companion app to see where it is, and, best of all, a remote locking feature that will automatically seal the case shut whenever it senses you have walked away from it.

CANARY SMART HOME SECURITY DEVICE

Canary promises to be a one-stop shop for all your home security needs when you’re on the road. The slick device, which borrows from the Apple design playbook, includes an HD camera with night-vision capabilities, motion activation and sensors to test temperature, humidity and air quality. It connects through wifi with your phone, allowing you to view your home from afar, with options to record when the motion sensor is activated, and to send alerts to your phone. It also comes with a built-in panic alarm to scare away burglars.

TILE MATE

Tile is one of these gadgets that you don’t need, right up until the moment when you do. The original Tile Mate is a one-inch square key-fob that you can sync with your phone, allowing you to use an app to see where you have left your keys, and to play an alert so you can find them when they have fallen down the back of the sofa (or press the Tile itself to play an alert on your phone, if that’s what you have lost). The app allows you to sync multiple devices so you can keep track of everything from jackets to luggage, all visible on the app. It now comes in a Slim size, which fits inside your wallet.

ARMOURCARD

Credit card skimming is a growing problem, with increasingly sophisticated scammers able to remotely hack contactless payment cards and even ePassports. This is where Armourcard comes in, a device that slides into your wallet and creates an electronic force-field to thwart intruders. Unlike many similar gadgets, Armourcard “actively” protects your information, rather than simply providing a passive barrier: nothing within six inches will be accessible, making it one of the most powerful data-protection solutions available.

TUMI ID LOCK L-FOLD WALLET

Tumi is renowned for creating stylish travel accessories, and this wallet is no exception. It features a proprietary technology sewn into the wallet’s lining that prevents scammers from remotely hacking your NFC credit cards. Any card inside the wallet should be safe, meaning you can protect all of your information in one fell swoop. It’s also a beautiful product in its own right, with a soft leather interior with six card slots and a tough, woven “ballistic nylon” exterior. Tumi also incorporates this technology into many of its bags and laptop cases.

NEST CAM SECURITY CAMERA

The connected home revolution is taking rather longer than we had been led to believe – few people actually control their lighting/heating/curtains through an app, and those that do are terrible bores. One company making smart homes cool, however, is Nest, and this camera is genuinely useful. Like most security cameras, you can interact with it using your phone, receiving alerts if the motion sensor is triggered, and this one lets you talk back. You can store video on Nest’s cloud, allowing you to play back up to 30 days’ footage (from £80 a year).

WD MY PASSPORT 4TB

Keeping your data safe is imperative if you’re carting your company’s top-secret plans across the globe. A great solution is an encrypted hard drive such as the WD My Passport. With built-in 256-bit hardware encryption, there is virtually no chance of hackers accessing your files, and you can set the device to send a “return if found” message to anyone plugging it in. With 4TB of storage, it has plenty of space for HD video and audio, making it perfect for presentations. It comes in a range of colours, and is tough enough to endure the knocks of long-haul travel.

DYNOTAG ALUMINIUM LUGGAGE TAG

Every suitcase should have one of these affordable, stylish aluminium tags. If someone should find your luggage unattended, the tag, printed in English and Spanish, will direct them to scan the QR code or visit the unique web address, bringing up your contact details. Each tag can be individually programmed through your personal (free) Dynotag account. As the tag is “passive” – it doesn’t contain any electronics, instead relying on the phone of whoever finds your stuff – you don’t have to worry about it running out of battery.

PIXIE

Described as “Pokemon Go for your iPhone”, this will ensure you never lose your iPhone or keys again. Pixie “Points” come in packs of at least two, with one attached to your phone (order soon and get a free iPhone case; Android not currently supported) and the rest stuck to your favourite possessions. Tracking items works using augmented reality – rather nauseatingly branded “Pixie Dust AR” – overlaying the “lost” item over the real world using the free app. It works within 150ft outdoors, or 30-50ft indoors, and when you get close, it beeps until you have found your stuff.