- August 2009
- Current Events
- Travel Tips
- Supplier News
- Regional
- International
- Government/Legislation
- Technology
- Industry Trends/Innovations
- Supplier Spotlight
- Spotlight on Leisure Offers
Technology
-
Be aware—and beware—of Wi-Fi fraud
Business travelers and vacationers alike are falling prey to a rising trend in crime: the cybercriminal. With the ubiquitous use of Internet search tools and email; and the offering of Wi-Fi at airports, airlines, and hotels as a standard amenity, an environment ripe for hackers has been created.
Cyber criminals are setting up fraudulent networks in all sorts of places including airports and hotels. And travelers are unknowingly connecting to fake WI-Fi hot spots by simply logging on to the first robust network they see. They then proceed to engage in some very risky activity—checking email, bank accounts, credit card balances, and even selling stock—and in the process handing the sensitive information on their laptops over to crooks.
Even some of the “secure” networks have been shown to be not so secure—many are “secured” by an aging protocol that was cracked in 2001. Many airports, airlines, and hotels are aware of the problems and are working to tighten security.
Security experts agree that the best defense involves a variety of precautions. The computer-security giant Symantec has created a list of the following five tips that can quash many attacks.
- Don’t look at important Web sites or documents in public areas.
- Use only the official access keys provided by the entity supplying the Wi-Fi. Some Wi-Fi networks look legitimate, but they will link the traveler’s computer to the hacker’s.
- Always assume Wi-Fi connections are being eavesdropped—never enter Social Security numbers, bank accounts, etc., when browsing on a public Wi-Fi network.
- Set Bluetooth devices to “hidden,” not to “discoverable.” Or shut off the function completely.
- Keep security software current and active.
Other helpful tips include creating a strong password, creating a dedicated email account for travel use with a unique password, and letting contacts know to use that special email address so that if the account gets hacked not much is lost.
If using a shared computer, such as those made available to the public in hotels and airports, users should try to cover their tracks by deleting the browsing history. If email must be checked, change the password as soon as possible on a secure computer.
Sources: foxnews.com, seattletimes.nwsource.com
