How to Travel With Privacy: Advice by Cyber Experts
While traveling abroad, nothing is worse than finding out your identity has been stolen. Travel can be expensive and for those who budget wisely, having personal accounts compromised only adds insult to injury. Additionally, there are many instances cybercriminals can access information. To become aware of the risks of cybercrimes, here’s how to travel with privacy.
Travel With Privacy: How to Avoid Cybercrime Risks
How Cyberattacks Happen
In airports, cafes, hotels, restaurants, other public WiFi networks, cybercriminals could lurk — waiting for people to enter an email password or access bank accounts. On unsecured networks like those in public places, eavesdroppers can pick up data transmitted to the server. This essentially means they see everything.
Here’s a scenario. You just spent a day exploring Milan and are in your hotel room connecting to the hotel WiFi. You realize you spent a lot of money today. It’s time to check if you are on track to meet your spending budget. You log on to your bank app and find you are well within your budget.
Here’s what you may not realize. Someone in your hotel just recorded your password and bank account and now has access to funds.
This is sometimes referred to as a Man In The Middle (MITM) attack. MITM attacks come in many forms using varying tactics, but all of them rely on unsecured or public networks to gain access to information.
How To Stop It
The good news is travelers can travel with privacy and protect important information. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) gives travelers complete privacy while using the internet by masking internet protocol (IP) addresses and encrypting data. Masking IP addresses is done by using servers all over the world, which make it appear as if travelers are in another location, making online activity completely untraceable.
For travelers who constantly visit airports and hotels, a VPN provides capability that makes traveling less challenging and stressful.
How To Use a VPN
Depending on the VPN, it protect any device connected to the internet. Setting it up is as simple as downloading the VPN app on a device, connecting to the internet and starting service. From then on, device activity — regardless of location — is safe and ultimately saves travelers from the hassle of identity theft.
However, choosing a VPN can be tricky and confusing if unfamiliar with how they work. Especially because there are VPNs made for different purposes. Luckily a general purpose VPN works well for any traveler.
Whether an avid business traveler, travel blogger, vacationing family or occasional adventurer, the benefits of using a VPN outweigh the costs and stress resulting from cybercrime. Staying on top of current threats targeting WiFi users can seem difficult, but completely necessary in order to travel with privacy.
For more information and helpful advice for your upcoming trip, check out more travel tips.
Article inspired by topics covered by Symantec, Norton and Lifelock.