Why Does Travelling Pose a Risk to Our Devices?
Feb 02, 2022
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The travel industry is opening up again after the global lockdown. We’re seeing flights take off again, hotels reopening their doors, and restaurants welcoming in customers. It’s something that we all have missed.
However, before you travel abroad this year you need to make sure that your devices are secure and up to date. Cybercrime is frequent in foreign countries, and hackers tend to target foreigners because they are more vulnerable.
In order to keep your device secure and your internet traffic private, you must use a VPN when traveling. If you’re not using this basic cybersecurity tool, your devices and your data could be at serious risk, read on to find out why.
Why is my Device at Risk When Traveling?
When we’re traveling we often need to make use of WiFi in order to catch up on our latest messages and news from our social media feeds. This is especially true while traveling abroad where it might be too expensive to use mobile data.
The most convenient way to access the internet while traveling is through public WiFi hotspots that can often be found at airports, hotels, and restaurants. They’re cheap, easy to access and they get the job done, so they seem like the perfect solution to getting connected.
However, the very same reason why public WiFi hotspots are so convenient to us, is exactly why they’re a great hunting ground for cybercriminals who are looking for new victims to target. Oftentimes public WiFi hotspots are unsecured networks, and this is what cybercriminals thrive on.
An unsecured network will give a cybercriminal free reign to access any of the other devices that are using it. The most common form of attack on an unsecured network is a man-in-the-middle attack.
A man-in-the-middle attack is when a cybercriminal positions their device in between your device and the internet connection (not necessarily physically). This means that any information that is sent or received on your device will first pass through the hacker’s device. In other words, messages, login credentials, emails, and more can be accessed by cybercriminals simply by relaying your internet traffic through their device before it is sent to the internet.
The scariest part about it is that you most likely won’t know about this attack while it’s happening. Cybercriminals are cunning and they are able to hide their attacks effectively while they are busy with them.
What Data Can a Cybercriminal Steal?
Understanding what data might be at risk during one of these cyberattacks is important because it will allow you to assess the damage that has been done by the cybercriminals. It will also give you an idea of what steps you need to take in order to keep yourself safe from further damage.
Cybercriminals can use a man-in-the-middle attack to steal your personal information. Anything from your email address to your phone number and even your physical address can be used against you. These can be used to commit fraud such as opening accounts in your name.
Once they have your email address, for example, they can send you targeted phishing attacks. Phishing attacks can be used to steal your login credentials, passwords and in some cases, it can also be used to install malicious software on your device.
Any data that cybercriminals are able to steal they can also sell on the dark web. Even the most basic information such as email addresses and phone numbers can sell for large amounts of money on the dark web to other cybercriminals who will use it to their advantage.
In some cases, cybercriminals can even steal your banking details or your bank’s login credentials. In this scenario, they will be able to log in to your banking account and approve fraudulent transactions or even transfer money.
While a cybercriminal has access to your device on an unsecured network they could also install malicious software, also known as malware onto your device. Malware is extremely dangerous and can range from viruses to spyware and even ransomware. It’s the last thing you want to have on your device while you’re in a foreign country.
How Can I Protect my Device While Traveling?
Keeping your devices secure while you travel is important. Doing so will allow you to be safe while traveling, and it will ensure that you can use WiFi without having to worry about your privacy or security while you’re abroad. You can keep your devices secure by installing two cybersecurity tools on your device.
The first cybersecurity tool you need to have when traveling is a premium VPN or virtual private network. A VPN will encrypt your internet connection which will mask where you are and what you do by connecting you to a global server in a different city or country.. No one will be able to see what you are doing on your device, not even your internet service provider. This is perfect for public WiFi hotspots because your device will be hidden from the cybercriminal and they won’t be able to access it.
Another crucial cybersecurity tool you need to install on your device is premium antivirus software. An antivirus will constantly scan your devices for any malware. If any malware has been found on your device, the antivirus can take action to remove it and keep your device secure. You must ensure that you always update your antivirus software before you travel. Software updates are used to fix any flaws that have been found in the software, and it prevents cybercriminals from exploiting these flaws and bypassing your antivirus.
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