How TravelSafe SOS Keeps Your Data Secure
The TravelSafe SOS app uses advanced encryption and security practices to protect your information from unauthorized access or cyber threats.
Data in Transit – Encrypted via HTTPS (SSL/TLS)
All data moving between your device and our servers is encrypted using HTTPS with SSL/TLS protocols. This ensures that sensitive information like your medical notes or emergency contacts cannot be intercepted or tampered with during transmission. Whether you’re activating the SOS button or updating your profile, your data is protected in real time.
Data at Rest – Encrypted on AWS Using AES-256
All stored data is encrypted using AES-256, one of the highest levels of encryption available. The TravelSafe SOS database is hosted securely on Amazon Web Services (AWS), a globally recognized platform with strict physical and digital protections.
This means that even if someone were to access the server, the data would remain scrambled and unreadable without the correct encryption keys—which are securely managed and never stored with the data itself.
Password Protection: Salted, Encrypted, and Secure
Your login credentials are handled with maximum care. TravelSafe SOS does not store passwords in plain text. Instead:
- Passwords are salted (random data is added before encryption)
- Then hashed and encrypted using secure hashing algorithms
- Finally, they are stored in a separate database from user profile data
Even if someone were to breach our systems—which is highly unlikely due to multiple layers of protection—they would not be able to read your password or link it to your account data.
When Is My Data Disclosed? Only During an Emergency
TravelSafe SOS follows the principle of least privilege—only the minimum necessary information is accessed and only under very specific conditions. Your data is never visible to our team unless:
- You activate the SOS button on the app
- You call or message the control center requesting assistance
- A crash or critical alert is automatically triggered by the app (if enabled)
At that point, a qualified paramedic or emergency operator is granted temporary, logged access to:
- Your current location
- Your travel insurance and emergency contacts
- Any critical medical notes you’ve stored
As soon as the emergency is resolved and the case closed, this access is revoked. All actions taken are logged, time-stamped, and secured for accountability and, if needed, for insurance verification.
Who Can Access My Information?
Access is restricted to a small, vetted team of emergency professionals trained in patient confidentiality and secure systems use. These individuals may include:
- TravelSafe SOS paramedics in the control room
- Verified third-party response partners (e.g., medevac teams or field responders)
- Your emergency contact, insurer, or travel agent—if and only if an emergency alert is issued
There is no access by marketing teams, developers, or external commercial third parties.
Is TravelSafe SOS Compliant with Global Data Laws?
Yes. We take compliance seriously and align with:
- GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) for EU users
- POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) for South African users
- HIPAA-informed privacy principles where applicable to healthcare coordination
We follow a privacy-first model in both app design and operations, ensuring that any data shared is:
- Done only with your consent or under emergency conditions
- Logged and encrypted for legal traceability
- Never used for advertising, marketing, or sold to any third party
What About My GPS Location?
TravelSafe SOS does not track your location passively. Your GPS is accessed only when:
- You actively use the SOS function
- You tap “Share Location” to request help
- A proximity alert feature (optional) is triggered
Your coordinates are not stored indefinitely and are never used for non-emergency purposes. You are in control of when and how your location is shared.
Can I Update or Delete My Information?
Absolutely. You remain in control of your data. Through the app, you can:
- Edit or update your profile at any time
- Remove outdated contacts or insurance info
- Deactivate your account
- Request permanent deletion of all stored data
If your account is inactive for 18 months, we automatically delete your stored data as a precautionary privacy measure. You’ll be notified before this happens.
How Long Is My Data Stored?
For active users, your profile is stored securely for as long as you use the app. If you deactivate your account or delete the app without requesting removal, we keep encrypted copies for up to 18 months before purging them.
If you’ve triggered an emergency incident (SOS alert), logs from that case—such as time stamps and communications—may be securely stored for up to five years to assist with insurance claims, legal reviews, or operational audits.
What About Payment Data?
If you purchase any premium services or add-on coverage through the app, your payment information is processed through secure third-party providers that comply with PCI-DSS standards. TravelSafe SOS does not store your credit card or banking details.
Can TravelSafe SOS Prevent Data Breaches?
No system is completely immune to risk, but we use multi-layered security protocols to make unauthorized access extremely unlikely. These include:
- Encrypted data transmission and storage
- Limited, role-based access for personnel
- Separate databases for password and user information
- Security audits and server monitoring
- AWS infrastructure with global-standard protections
In the event of a suspected breach, we follow immediate reporting and user notification protocols as per GDPR and POPIA requirements.
Why Data Security Is Critical in Emergencies
Imagine you’re injured, unconscious, or confused in a remote area. You can’t speak for yourself. Having a secure, pre-filled profile can:
- Alert responders to critical allergies or conditions
- Prevent dangerous drug interactions
- Help locate your insurance provider
- Notify your next of kin without delay
- Guide evacuations and hospital transfers efficiently
But it must be done securely—and only when truly necessary. That’s what TravelSafe SOS does: makes your data instantly useful to the right people, only in the moments that matter.
Final Thoughts: Travel Emergency Protection Begins with Trust
The TravelSafe SOS app was built for travelers who take their safety seriously. That safety includes your data. We don’t sell, share, or misuse your information. We don’t collect what we don’t need. And we only access it when you ask us to—or when your life may depend on it.
Everything we store is encrypted. Every access is logged. And every feature has been built to give you control, privacy, and peace of mind.
Planning a trip to Africa in 2025?
Download the TravelSafe SOS app and know your data is secure, encrypted, and only activated in an emergency. Whether you’re on safari in Botswana, diving off Zanzibar, or road-tripping through Namibia, your safety and your privacy go hand in hand.
