CAUTION with public, free Wi-Fi networks when traveling on holiday

Tram Ho

The whole country is entering a 4-day National Day holiday on September 2. With a long number of days off, many families have chosen different domestic and foreign locations to travel and rest. However, besides the issues of personal safety when traveling, another equally important factor that every individual needs to pay attention to when traveling is making the internet connection safe.

Cybersecurity firm NordVPN says up to 25% of travelers experience unauthorized access to information while traveling abroad, mainly because they use free, public Wi-Fi networks during airport transit. flight or station.

CẨN TRỌNG với mạng Wi-Fi công cộng, miễn phí khi đi du lịch dịp nghỉ lễ - Ảnh 1.
In public places such as airports, train stations… all have free Wi-Fi.

Visitors and users will face three main forms of attack when using free Wi-Fi networks in public places, including: Eavesdropping attacks; Phishing attack; Wi-Fi spoofing attack.

In which, eavesdropping attack and Wi-Fi spoofing attack are the two most commonly used methods by hackers.

Wi-Fi spoofing

This type of attack is very common (most common). In particular, when traveling abroad, tourists often cannot distinguish the wifi networks in the destination, hackers will create a fake Wi-Fi hotspot similar to the public Wi-Fi name that the user is using. access, and once you log into the Wi-Fi network created by them, all your information and data is sent to them.

For example, an attacker would create a public Wi-Fi network, giving it a name that sounds very much like the coffee shop you’re sitting at, like “Coffee ABC”. If you’re not alert and connect to that Wi-Fi network, it will record everything from the details you enter like bank passwords, to other sensitive data…

CẨN TRỌNG với mạng Wi-Fi công cộng, miễn phí khi đi du lịch dịp nghỉ lễ - Ảnh 2.
Use caution when using any public Wi-Fi connection. Internet photos

Eavesdropping attack

This type of attack is also very common, hackers will monitor and interfere with the data connecting in – out on the user’s Wi-Fi connected device. It can also direct users to malicious websites to trick users into stealing financial information or install malicious code on computers for remote access.

Public Wi-Fi networks also open the door for attackers on the same network, even if it’s a legitimate Wi-Fi network, not a spoofed network. You should avoid entering Wi-Fi networks without a password and sending data out without encryption.

How to safely use free, public Wi-Fi?

If you’re just using regular internet access, public Wi-Fi doesn’t have much of a risk factor. But if your computer or phone has a lot of important data in it, using public Wi-Fi always carries the risk that you will lose data, your device will be infected with a virus or malicious code. Even Wi-Fi with a password can be hacked.

In fact, even legal Wi-Fi in public places are potentially dangerous, because of weak security. Hackers can gain administrative rights and observe traffic flows, thereby stealing passwords or information of victims. This is a form of “man-in-the-middle attack”, ie hackers will steal personal data through the connection between the victim’s device and the Wi-Fi source.

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Legitimate Wi-Fi in public places is also potentially dangerous. Internet photos

So how do travelers protect themselves when using free, public Wi-Fi?

Many people are eager to book a room, book a ticket or pay for a service while waiting for a flight; However, public Wi-Fi networks are often less secure, so it is possible that users’ personal information will be stolen.

When traveling or using public places, visitors and users should:

Use a VPN (virtual private network), instead of connecting directly to unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks.

This tool encrypts user data, allowing users to remain anonymous while online. Accordingly, websites will only see the virtual network IP address, not your IP. It also prevents third-party intrusions.

In case you do not use a VPN and want to use apps for online purchases or bank transfers, the best and safest way is to use a mobile data connection.

CẨN TRỌNG với mạng Wi-Fi công cộng, miễn phí khi đi du lịch dịp nghỉ lễ - Ảnh 4.
Tourists have a habit of using their phones while waiting for a flight or train. However, they often forget to secure information for their devices – Photo: Internet

Do not connect to suspicious internet networks

Sometimes cybercriminals set up free Wi-Fi stations just to lure you in. You should consider asking before connecting to a public Wi-Fi network instead of setting it to automatic.

In case you must use the internet, absolutely do not publicize your important personal information such as phone number, date of birth, etc. There are some free public Wi-Fi networks that only let you connect when you provide personal information such as email, address, phone number, etc. If not necessary, it is best not to connect to these networks.

In addition, visitors should disable the device’s automatic Wi-Fi network connection feature .

Most smartphones or mobile devices have this setting, which ensures every connection is proactively considered. Most importantly, visitors should not share information, passwords or any other personal data while connected to a public Wi-Fi network.

In case you must use the internet, it is best to create a fake account and provide fake information.

In addition, when traveling abroad, buy a 3G sim in the country where you are going to access the network.

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Source : Genk