Don’t Risk It: The Cyber Threats of Using Public Wi-Fi While Traveling

If you’ve ever read an article on staying safe while traveling, you’ve likely seen the warnings about public Wi-Fi in the cybersecurity section. Is using it really that dangerous? Why is that, and how should you keep in touch with loved ones and the world during your travels instead? Here are all the answers you need!

Why is Public Wi-Fi Dangerous?

Public Wi-Fi doesn’t offer all the safeguards you get when connecting to the internet through your office or home network. Worse yet, it’s easy to take control of and even easier to fake, which puts unsuspecting public Wi-Fi users in greater danger.

Hackers primarily target busy places like airports and restaurants where people often utilize free Wi-Fi. So, checking social media or email while waiting for a flight or unwinding at a café makes you an easy target. Cybercriminals can steal social media account credentials, credit card information, and other sensitive data from anyone who connects to it without proper protection and cybersecurity measures.

How Is It Dangerous?

While introducing protocols like HTTPS has made online browsing safer, accessing the internet via public Wi-Fi still makes you vulnerable to hacking and cyberattacks.

Public Wi-Fi can be an effective means of distributing malware. Merely connecting to a compromised network automatically may be enough for a hacker to issue a fake update notification, which you’ll be likely to click on.

Following the link and installing the “update” can infect your device with a virus or ransomware that makes it inaccessible. The fake update can also include keyloggers that report and transfer your keystrokes, including any sensitive information or logins you type.

Man-in-the-middle attacks are another threat that bypasses built-in online browsing protections. They are usually present in scenarios where an attacker monitoring the Wi-Fi intercepts your connection and alters the data you receive. They may use this to redirect you from real online shops, banking sites, etc., to fake duplicates and steal your login credentials.

Apart from that, some apps on your phone might not have adequate safety standards, too. For example, Bridgefy is an app that lets users communicate through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. While it claimed to offer encryption for its messaging system, these were inadequate. Users connected through a monitored network had their identities revealed and messages read.

Are there Safer Ways of Going Online While Traveling?

Yes, and you may not even need to give up the convenience of public Wi-Fi if you use some of them.

Browsing over a mobile data network comes to mind first. Mobile networks have considerably higher security standards. Hackers would need to compromise their secure infrastructure to do the same amount of damage as they can on unsecured public Wi-Fi, which is much harder to pull off.

Roaming costs would make mobile data prohibitive, but there is an alternative you can use if you have budget restraints. Your smartphone likely has an eSIM chip, which allows it to connect to local carriers and take advantage of their cheaper plans and signal strength. If you prefer to use an eSIM, all you have to do is, for example, search for an eSIM UK plan, set it up, and that’s it – you’ve just seamlessly connected to the internet.

Mobile data and hotspots offer more protection than public Wi-Fi, but there’s still the matter of privacy. Shielding your connection with a VPN encrypts it while also hiding your IP address, making it impossible for mobile operators to track you or throttle your internet speeds. A VPN’s encryption is also an effective deterrent against snoops and eavesdroppers on Wi-Fi networks, making them viable when you want to conserve mobile data.

You’re All Set Up

If you decide to check up on your socials or do some online shopping over public Wi-Fi, the chances of getting your credentials, files, or money stolen are far greater than zero. So why risk it?

Take some time to read Saily reviews and client testimonials about different eSIM providers to find the eSIM that best fits your needs. Also, look for the best VPN deals to avoid breaking the bank while shielding yourself from potential snoops.

After all, now that you know how to protect yourself, there’s really no reason not to.