Experts in cyber security agree that travelers should avoid using public Wi-Fi at the airport. Read on to learn more about why public Wi-Fi is a huge risk and how to access the Internet safely while traveling.
Experts warn that while using the public internet at an airport may seem like a convenient option, criminals could easily use these networks to steal sensitive information from unwary travelers.
Matthew Hicks is a cybersecurity expert at Virginia Tech and an associate professor of computer sciences. Travel + Leisure.
Public Wi Fi is a shared connection to the internet, usually over an unprotected network. Hackers can therefore access sensitive information such as passwords or credit card numbers, and they may also install malware.
About 40 percent of Americans have had their data compromised while using a public Wi-Fi network, according to a recent Forbes Advisor survey Of 2,000 workers, 2,000 regularly use the public internet. Forbes’ survey found that while 23 percent of internet users believe public WiFI is safe, another 43 percent say it is only somewhat safe.
John Breyault
Any activity you perform on an airport Wi Fi network should be one that you would be happy for the rest of your world to know about.
— John Breyault
Because travelers often have ample downtime before flights—and may be in an area without cellular connection—airports are a common access point for public Wi-Fi, Hicks said.
Internet crime cost consumers more than 16 billion dollars in 2024. This is a record-breaking amount and represents a 33 percent rise from 2023. according to data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to the FBI, personal data breaches were the most common complaint. B. Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal and Cyber Unit wrote in its annual internet crime report that “as almost all aspects of our life have become digitally-connected, the attacker surface has increased exponentially.” Scammers are increasingly using online fraud to steal Americans’ hard earned savings.
Beware of fake WiFi networks
John Breyault is vice president of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud at the National Consumers League. This consumer advocacy group told T+L that scammers often trick travelers into connecting to fake Wi-Fi networks.
Someone trying to connect to the O’Hare Guest Wi-Fi network may unknowingly access another—perhaps “O’Hare Guest 2” or “Chicago Airport Wi-Fi”—controlled by a criminal. “Make sure [the network] Breyault explained that the honeypot is run by the airport and not by someone who sets it up.
The Australian Federal Police will be in place by 2024 charged a man According to reports, he allegedly set up one of the so-called “evil” twin networks that steals people’s data. AFP reported he had done this in airports such as Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide and other locations.
Hicks added that airport staff can help travelers if they are unsure.
How to safely use Wi Fi at the Airport
It is safest to use your mobile phone to create a hotspot for internet access in an airport. Hicks claims that by taking this simple step, the number attackers will be “nearly zero”. It’s because you’re using a private Wi-Fi network instead of a public cellular connection. Breyault explained that you are not sharing the connection with anyone else at the airport. “Your data is much safer while in transit.”
If this isn’t possible, then experts suggest using a VPN (virtual-private network), which offers an extra layer of security. Hicks advises that you should buy from a company based in the United States.
Breyault advised travelers to avoid accessing sensitive information such as email, social networks, financial accounts or any other account via airport Wi-Fi. Breyault explained that if you are checking the weather only, this is one thing. If you are checking the balance of your bank account, this is something else.
He said that “anything you do using airport Wi-Fi, you should feel comfortable knowing the rest of world knows about.”
