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These days, it is easy to stay connected when traveling the world. You can check your emails and social media while relaxing at the hotel or even stream your favorite show at the airport while waiting for a flight, but there are risks involved. Open Wi-Fi helps you plan your day, stay in touch, or handle bookings, but it also exposes your data to anyone on the same network. This is why you need to know how to reduce these risks with a few practical habits. Read on to find out more.
Spot the Hidden Risks of Public Wi-Fi
Shared networks allow strangers to intercept unencrypted traffic, which could involve your personal data. For instance, a hacker could steal your information when you are accessing your online banking app, logging into your email, or sending passport scans over an open connection. Additionally, attackers often set up fake hotspots that pose as legitimate cafe or airport Wi-Fi – this is why you should always confirm the exact name of the network with staff before connecting.
Use Tools That Shield Your Browsing
Fortunately, there are tools that can encrypt your traffic so that others on the same network cannot read it. Using a VPN Chrome extension keeps data secure even on an unreliable connection, allowing you to browse with confidence whilst on the move. A browser-based tool such as ProtonVPN’s Chrome extension protects most day-to-day travel activity, including checking bookings or paying for local transport.
Protect Your Accounts While Traveling
You also need to take steps to protect your accounts while traveling. To prevent your account from being hacked, use complex and unique passwords for each account and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for another layer of defense. MFA can involve approving a notification on your phone or receiving a text code, which can prevent hackers from accessing your cloud storage, email, banking apps, etc.
Avoid Oversharing Your Digital Footprint
Reduce your exposure by switching off auto-connect, forgetting unused networks, and limiting device permissions. This could prevent your phone from joining an old hostel network that a scammer could imitate.
Know When to Disconnect
Finally, you should know the signs to look out for that you should disconnect. If you notice very slow speeds, sudden disconnections, or unexpected login pages, this suggests an unreliable network. If you are handling any sensitive data, it might be safer to do this on mobile data – a small data charge often costs far less than the hassle of recovering a compromised account.
It is important that you know how to stay safe when using the internet on your travels. Cybercrime is on the rise, and travelers are at risk as they are connected to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, which could put their data at risk. By following the advice in this post, you can stay safe and browse with confidence.