Free WiFi is Getting Riskier for Travelers: 5 Tips

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According to the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), international tourist arrivals in 2017 reached a total of 1.322 million worldwide. However, with the increasing number of people traveling abroad, these travellers are getting more and more attention from various fraudsters, especially online.


One of the biggest online threats for travelers is free public WiFi. 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.


“WiFi 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 WiFi 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.”

How to Stay Safe on Public WiFi 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 WiFi names, ask the hotel’s staff which is the real one. Finally, always avoid logging into work or banking accounts while on public WiFi and do this only if necessary.


Use a VPN on public WiFi


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 That 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.


About NordVPN


NordVPN is the world’s most advanced VPN service provider that is more security oriented than most VPN services. It offers double VPN encryption, ad blocking & Onion Over VPN. The product is very user-friendly, offers one of the best prices on the market, has over 5,000 servers worldwide and is P2P friendly. One of the key features of NordVPN is zero log policy. For more information: nordvpn.com.

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