Hi there, its Ernest from Trip Astute. In this video, we're answering the question:
Is it safe to use free Wi-Fi while traveling, along with some tips to
protect your data while on your trip.
(light chiming music)
You've probably been in this situation while traveling. You're sitting in an
airport or a restaurant and you check to see whether there's a free Wi-Fi
connection. You find one in your phone settings, but you're not 100% sure
whether it's safe to join. You're torn between getting your messages and your
notifications, and keeping your data and privacy secure and safe. So, what do you
do? First off, we should probably discuss why it's dangerous to jump on an
unsecured Wi-Fi connection. I won't get too technical as I'm not a network
security expert or engineer. However, to explain it simply, it's not uncommon for
hackers to scan other computers on the same network for open ports or
vulnerabilities, or even to intercept the transmitted data through packet sniffing
or a man-in-the-middle attack. In a man-in-the-middle attacked, or MITM, you
might see a version of a site that you think is legitimate, when in fact ,it's the
hacker trying to intercept your personal data. And even worse, sometimes hackers
can perform an attack known as an "evil twin" where they pretend to be the free
internet hotspot. If you think about it, anyone can create a hotspot and call it
"Free Airport Wifi" and wait for folks to join. In this case, any data that you
transmit can be intercepted and compromised. There are other ways that
your data can be compromised, such as through sidejacking or session hijacking.
We won't get into all the details, but just know that there are many ways for
bad folks to steal your information. So with all the dangers of free Wi-Fi, here
are some tips to protect yourself. Number one: Use your mobile phone for
data. When I travel domestically, I generally avoid the free Wi-Fi
connection at the airport and just tether my tablet and laptop to my phone.
It's a lot safer, and I don't have to worry about the connection and whether
it's legitimate or not. This option is not always available though, especially
when traveling internationally or places where my mobile phone reception is not
available or strong. Number two: Stick to connections that are
provided by a business. This can be a tricky one, but if you have the option of
joining a free airport hotspot or a connection at a Starbucks or other
coffee shop, I would suggest connecting to the one that's likely managed by a
business. This doesn't mean that the connection is safe by any means, but it
might eliminate some of the potential threats like the fake hotspot trick that
we discussed earlier. Also, if you happen to be at a coffee shop or another
business, and you see two similar hotspots, ask the clerk which one is the
correct network. You may also want to alert them if you think that someone is
trying to spoof their network. Number three: Be weary of sign-up pages. It's
common for free internet connections to ask for your contact information. I suggest
using an alternative email address, like a burner email, that doesn't include
your name, and possibly a different or shortened version of your name when
signing in. The reason for doing this is because if someone is trying to
intercept your data, you don't want them to have your name and email address as a
starting point if they're trying to compromise your information through
social engineering. Basically, hackers can try to compromise your identity using
bits and pieces of information about you, so avoid giving them your contact
information from the start. Number four: Avoid transmitting sensitive data. This
one is tricky. Your phone and computer already send massive amounts of data
behind the scenes, even when you're not actively using your device. However, as a
general rule, I avoid logging into any sensitive accounts like my bank accounts
when on a free or unsecure internet connection. If you do need to access
sensitive data, then I suggest sticking to secure websites and apps. When using a
web browser make sure the address includes HTTPS, and
that you see a padlock in the address bar signaling that it's a secure
connection. Apps are a bit more difficult to gauge. Most of the major banks have
apps that transmit your data securely. However, some security experts recommend
using mobile websites instead of apps for financial data since apps can
sometimes accept bogus security credentials. Number five: Make sure to log
out of services when you're done. If you happen to be using services like
Facebook or Gmail, make sure you log off before ending your session. It might seem
like overkill, but it prevents someone from trying to continue using your open
session. Also, many sites now offer the ability to log sign-ins, which is a good
way to know whether someone might be trying to use your account. Number six:
Use a virtual private network or VPN. This is probably your best bet to ensure
that your data is securely transmitted when connected to a free open Wi-Fi
connection. These services route your data through dedicated and encrypted
servers. It's like having a secure tunnel for your data the moment it leaves your device,
where no one can peek inside or see where it's going.
There are several free and paid options out there, and I'll include links in the
video description to some that I recommend. Also, some high end home
network routers allow you to create your own VPN service, which is also a great
option if you're tech savvy and you want to control the process. And those are our
top tips for keeping your data safe while traveling. There are a ton of other
things that you can do, and I'll include a link below to a Lifehacker article
that talks about configuring your firewall and share settings, especially
on your laptop. It's unfortunate that we have to think about these things, and
sadly, there isn't a foolproof way to completely avoid the risks. However, you
can definitely lessen the chances of your data being stolen by taking some small
steps and precautions. Do you have any tips or experiences with free Wi-Fi
networks, especially while traveling? If so, please share them in the comment
section. If you enjoyed this video or found it useful, please hit the "like"
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Until next time, travel safe and travel smart.