The hidden dangers of public Wi-Fi
As the summer travel season heats up, travelers are urged to protect their private information from cyber threats when connecting to free Wi-Fi at cafes, airports, and other public places.Internet security expert Eric Plam, who is also the president of a company that produces mobile hotspots, SIMO, emphasized the importance of connectivity, likening it to “water and air.” However, he warned that “free and public Wi-Fi access points can be fraught with danger.”Hackers and scammers target personal data, with threats like the “man in the middle” or “evil twin” Wi-Fi scam posing significant risks. Plam explained, “Which is a Wi-Fi network that looks like the real legitimate one, but it’s actually run by somebody who could be very nearby trying deliberately to intercept your data. Passwords, logins, they could even hack into your computer.”To safeguard data, Plam advised travelers to be cautious when connecting to public Wi-Fi. He recommended checking for a password or room number requirement at cafes, airport lounges, or hotels. Once connected, users should ensure they are browsing secure sites by looking for “HTTPS” in the web address and a padlock symbol, though the FBI notes this isn’t always a guarantee of safety.Plam also advised against logging into bank accounts or conducting sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi. For added security, he suggested purchasing a virtual private network (VPN) to create a secure tunnel between the device and the site being visited.
As the summer travel season heats up, travelers are urged to protect their private information from cyber threats when connecting to free Wi-Fi at cafes, airports, and other public places.
Internet security expert Eric Plam, who is also the president of a company that produces mobile hotspots, SIMO, emphasized the importance of connectivity, likening it to “water and air.” However, he warned that “free and public Wi-Fi access points can be fraught with danger.”
Hackers and scammers target personal data, with threats like the “man in the middle” or “evil twin” Wi-Fi scam posing significant risks. Plam explained, “Which is a Wi-Fi network that looks like the real legitimate one, but it’s actually run by somebody who could be very nearby trying deliberately to intercept your data. Passwords, logins, they could even hack into your computer.”
To safeguard data, Plam advised travelers to be cautious when connecting to public Wi-Fi. He recommended checking for a password or room number requirement at cafes, airport lounges, or hotels. Once connected, users should ensure they are browsing secure sites by looking for “HTTPS” in the web address and a padlock symbol, though the FBI notes this isn’t always a guarantee of safety.
Plam also advised against logging into bank accounts or conducting sensitive transactions on public Wi-Fi. For added security, he suggested purchasing a virtual private network (VPN) to create a secure tunnel between the device and the site being visited.
