With more and more travelers taking off on long-awaited getaways, cybercriminals have plenty of opportunities to take advantage of security gaps online.
One in four travelers have been hacked while using public wi-fi on their travels abroad. Most of the attacks took place while people were in transit.
It's normal to scroll through your phone while waiting. When people are away, they tend to forget about their online security. The public wi-fi network weaknesses in airports and train stations are used by hackers to gain access to sensitive personal or corporate data.
Travelers are prime targets for cyber criminals because they don't know what the real name of the internet is.
It is possible for a hacker to set up fake wi-fi in places frequented by tourists, such as airports, train stations, hotels, cafes, restaurants, etc. All personal information, including payment card details, private emails, website login information and various other credentials, is sent straight to the hacker when a traveler connects to an "evil twin" hotspot.
Even the legit public wi-fi networks can be dangerous to use. A lack of encryption means that hackers can connect to the open network and steal passwords and personal information. This is called a man-in-the-middle attack because the cybercriminal intercepts information by tapping into the connection between a person's device and a wi-fi hot spot.
The device needs to be protected from man-in-the-middle attacks. According to our research, more than 70% of people don't use a virtual private network on their trip, which increases their susceptibility to hackers' attacks.
Travelers continue to use public wi-fi networks because of the risk of exposing personal and sensitive data. There are some tips for keeping your device protected.
There is a service that allows you to use a virtual private network. Travelers can use a virtual private network, also known as a VPNs, to ensure online security when working over a public wi-fi connection. Third parties are not allowed to intercept the user's data over the network if they use the PureVPN service.
Automatic connections need to be disabled. If you change this setting on your device, you won't accidentally connect to a public network.
Don't give your credentials to someone. Booking and reservations on the go, for the sake of convenience, makes your data more vulnerable. While connected to public wi-fi, NordVPN advises against booking hotels, plane tickets, etc.
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