The FBI has also given warnings.
Technology has made things instant for travelers—booking a flight or hotel, hiring a taxi, check-in and boarding, payments, and complaints. Everything is a swipe, tap, or touch away. But the security risks have grown with this ease of service. Around the world, scammers and hackers have found holes in the systems, and travelers have to stay vigilant when traveling.
Read the suggestions below to keep yourself digitally safe when you’re on the go. Consider this a refresher before your summer trip this year.
Don’t Use Public Charging Stations
In April, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reminded travelers to carry their own chargers and USB cords instead of using a free charging station.
Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers. Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead. pic.twitter.com/9T62SYen9T
— FBI Denver (@FBIDenver) April 6, 2023
“Juice jacking” is when someone uses a USB to install malware on your phone and access private data and passwords. In 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) warned about it, and this recent tweet is a regular reminder.
But you should know that it is only a potential threat, and the FCC confirms there have been no confirmed cases as yet. To be on the safer side, carry a power bank and your own plug and cord, and use an electric outlet. If you do use a public charging station, accept the “Charge Only” option instead of “share data.”
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Don’t Use Public Wi-Fi
The first thing we often do when we land somewhere is turn off airplane mode and connect to airport Wi-Fi. But the National Security Agency has warned that these networks also make your devices vulnerable. An open network has much weaker encryption, and a hacker can intercept communications–it’s called a “man-in-the-middle attack.” A hacker may also create a public network with a similar name and scam you into using it to get access to your device.
“If connecting to a public Wi-Fi network, [the National Security Agency] strongly advises using a personal or corporate-provided virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt the traffic,” the NSA advises.
Related: The U.S. Government Warned Its Employees Not to Do This at the Airport
Don’t Use Auto-Connect
When you connect to a Wi-Fi network, check if auto-connect is ticked off. When you’re not using trusted networks (like home and office), you should turn it off so the system doesn’t automatically connect to a random network when it’s in range.
Don’t Post Pictures of Your Boarding Pass Online
Posting a picture of your boarding pass on social media is a security risk, and most people don’t realize it. The boarding pass has your flight information written, but the barcode on it may also have contact info, passport details, frequent flier number, and other sensitive data.
A TikTok user shared how easy it is for anyone to change seats or cancel flights when given access to flight information on a boarding pass. Your frequent flier miles can also be stolen, and you may be vulnerable to identity theft, financial fraud, and burglary.
Don’t dump your boarding pass in the trash when you’re home, either. Shred it safely.
Don’t Keep Airdrop, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi On
Bluetooth and Airdrop can also be used by cybercriminals to gain access to your device. It is best to turn everything off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Airdrop when they’re not in use. You should also change your privacy settings so your device is not discoverable by everyone.
It is advised that you don’t connect your device to a rental car. But if you do, make sure you unpair it after use and delete all saved data.
Don’t Share Live Locations on Social Media
It goes without saying that you shouldn’t share information and pictures of where you’re staying and where you are while you’re there. Not only does it make it easier for people to track you down, it also informs people that you’re not at home or at your hotel.
Don’t Use Computers at Cafes or Hotels
It’s best not to use public computers when you’re traveling. They may not be as safe as your home computer—cyber criminals may install malware to track every keystroke and send information back to them. If you have to use it, don’t enter any personal, sensitive data like bank account details or credit card information. Look out for “Remember Me” options on websites and uncheck them when you’re using public computers. Also, always use Safe Mode or Incognito and erase all history before you leave. And, of course, do not save passwords on a shared computer.
Related: Can Artificial Intelligence Plan Your Next Trip? We Interviewed ChatGPT to Find Out