Free Wi-Fi Is Getting More Dangerous for Travelers

According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), international tourist arrivals in 2017 reached a total of 1.322 million worldwide.

However, with the increasing number of people traveling abroad, tourists are getting more and more attention from various fraudsters, especially online.

One of the biggest online threats for travelers is free public Wi-Fi. Hackers often position themselves as free WiFi hotspots and easily steal personal information, credit card details or other data. In addition, identity thieves have lately been using wireless sniffers, a type of software designed to intercept and decode data when it is transmitted over a network.

"Wi-Fi today is indispensable for travelers. We need it to book hotels, trips, experiences, and stay in contact with our family and friends. Even maps or travel itineraries are mostly online these days," says Daniel Markuson, Digital Privacy Expert at NordVPN. "By the way, if you think your hotel's Wi-Fi is more secure, it's probably not. Their job is to offer you comfort, not cybersecurity, so they typically put little to no effort in protecting their guest network."

Tips: How to stay safe on public Wi-Fi when traveling:

Never join a new network blindly.

If the network is left unprotected, chances are some cybercriminal is lurking there to steal your private data. On the other hand, hackers themselves often create rogue hotspots to trick users into thinking they are legitimate. If you see two similar Wi-Fi names, ask the hotel's staff which is the real one. Finally, always avoid logging into work or banking accounts while on public Wi-Fi and do this only if necessary.

Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi.

A VPN is a preferred tool for travelers as it encrypts all the traffic flow between the Internet and a user's device and helps hide the IP address. If you are a beginner, it's best to choose a VPN that's user-friendly, for example, NordVPN. Beware of free VPN service providers that typically rely on third-party advertisers to cover the costs. Often they are free proxy services marketed as VPNs, which is not accurate: they only change your IP address but do not encrypt your Internet traffic.

Check if the website address includes "https."

You should only use the websites that have URLs starting with "https"—the S means that it is a secure protocol and your data is encrypted properly. Using "https" sites is especially important if you are shopping online, paying for hotels, trips or experiences using your credit card details.

Enable your firewall.

Most operating systems have a built-in firewall these days, which keeps outsiders from going through your computer's data. A firewall is easy to enable—simply check your system preferences or control panel instructions. The firewall won't completely protect from hacks, but it's a useful tool if used in combination with other security-enhancing services.

Don't forget antivirus.

Antivirus software is highly recommended to use at all times to protect your network from malware. However, using an antivirus only is not enough to keep your system secure. A hacker can check whether antivirus will detect malware and if so, they can easily modify the malicious code and try again.

Courtesy of NordVPN.