According to new research from e-SIM provider Sally, 58% of Americans use free public Wi-Fi while traveling. While this is a convenient and inexpensive way to access the internet while traveling, it also poses some cybersecurity issues.
“There are many cybersecurity issues associated with public Wi-Fi,” says Vikintas Maknickas, head of product strategy at Nord Security. “Man-in-the-middle attacks, during which bad actors can intercept communications between your phone or laptop and the Wi-Fi network so they can listen in on your activity, steal data or install malware, are just one example. Session hijacking – an attack during which criminals can steal session cookies and gain unauthorized access to users’ accounts – is another example.”
Dangers of Public Wi-Fi
Apart from the attacks mentioned above, hackers can also use a variety of techniques to misuse public Wi-Fi. For example, they can set up fake hotspots – fake Wi-Fi networks that mimic legitimate networks. When a user connects to these fake hotspots, attackers can gain access to the device and steal data.
Another type of attack is called the evil twin attack – similar to rogue hotspots, the evil twin attack involves setting up a network with the same name as a legitimate public Wi-Fi network, such as a hotel or cafe. Users may unwittingly connect to the “evil twin” and give attackers the ability to intercept their communications.
Finally, cyber criminals can use special software to “sniff” data being transmitted over public Wi-Fi networks – this type of attack is simply called “sniffing.”
Time spent online while traveling
Looking at what people use the Internet for while traveling, the Sealy survey found that overall, American travelers spend a lot of time online. Only a quarter spend less than two hours online per day, while the majority exceed this limit.
When it comes to online activity, 56% of people say most of their online time is spent communicating and 50% of the time is spent sharing on social media.
An astonishing 42% of people use the internet for money management – payments and transactions.
“I would recommend using mobile networks instead of public Wi-Fi, especially when dealing with money. If such sensitive information gets leaked, it can be very damaging for the victim,” says Vikintas Maknickas, Head of Product Strategy at Nord Security.
What do the experts suggest?
While it’s understandable that travelers look for the most convenient and cheapest option to access the Internet, Macnikas recommends considering alternative Internet options.
“Mobile Internet is more secure, especially when considering activities such as online banking,” says Vikintas Maknickas, head of product strategy at Nord Security. “Today there are also cost-effective options such as e-SIM or international data packages, so users don’t have to compromise security for a lower price.”
However, for those considering using public Wi-Fi, he recommends taking these steps to secure the connection:
- Avoid accessing sensitive information – Avoid accessing banking sites, making online purchases or entering sensitive information on public Wi-Fi – it’s better to use mobile data for such tasks.
- Forget the network – After using a public Wi-Fi network, select the “Forget the network” option on your device to prevent automatic re-connection in the future.
- Update software – Make sure your operating system, browser, and applications are up to date with the latest security patches.
- Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) – A VPN encrypts your internet connection, making it harder for attackers to intercept your data.
About Sally
Saily is an affordable, user-friendly and durable eSIM service that helps people manage mobile and internet connections from anywhere in the world without any worries. Saily offers 24/7 instant customer support, flexible plans and global coverage. Saily was created by the experts behind NordVPN – the advanced security and privacy app. For more information: saily.com.
If you want to subscribe to Saily you can visit this link. Alternatively, you can check out this NordVPN deal which lets you get Saily for free.
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