Cybercriminals can attack tourists, or rather their data, at the airport if naive travelers connect to public Wi-Fi. Travel risk expert Claudia Gualdi provides details on what can happen when using a shared, unsecured network and how to check the security of a wireless LAN.
Many travelers connect to airport Wi-Fi to while away the time before boarding their flight. However, experts said this could make them vulnerable to attacks by cybercriminals. Thus, Claudia Gualdi, head of the travel data collection department, emphasized that public Wi-Fi networks, including those at airports, are not completely secure and can be accessed by anyone. With thousands of travelers simultaneously connected to the same network, the risk increases.
There are different types of threats
Connecting to public Wi-Fi at an airport poses a variety of cyber threats , including identity and banking information theft, unauthorized email access, password theft, and malware from infected downloads.
The expert also pointed to more complex attacks, such as “man in the middle” attacks, which allow hackers to eavesdrop on communications, as well as “eavesdropping attacks”, in which a hacker can extract unprotected data from a user's device.
How can a tourist protect himself?
To minimize risks, the expert suggested following the following seven tips:
- Choose the correct connection. Make sure that the tourist is connected to the official airport Wi-Fi by checking the exact name with the staff. This will help you avoid connecting to fake networks created by hackers. “It’s very common to find Wi-Fi networks with similar names in airports,” she explained.
- Turn off automatic connection to public hotspots in your device settings.
Use a VPN. Using a virtual private network (VPN) will hide your IP address and encrypt data sent and received over the Internet. - Install antivirus software. This is additional protection against malicious attacks.
- It is preferable to choose networks that require a password for access.
- Do not conduct important operations on a public network. For example, banking transactions or sending sensitive data.
- Avoid visiting dubious sites. The specialist recommended visiting only pages with “https” and a lock icon in the address bar.
- Disconnect immediately after use.
For those who value a healthy lifestyle, we recommend reading : “It has been established how excessive consumption of carbohydrates and fats affects life expectancy in men and women.”