Summer vacation season is here, with millions set to travel abroad and stay in hotels – but you need to be careful when connecting to WiFi.

A cybersecurity expert has warned that connecting to a hotel’s wireless network is far riskier than you may realize and could have consequences.

Cybersecurity expert’s warning about hotel WiFi

Trevor Cooke, a cybersecurity expert at Earthweb, warned that hotel WiFi networks are breeding grounds for cyber threats.

“Public Wi-Fi, by its very nature, is less secure than your home network,” he said. “Many hotels prioritize convenience over robust security measures, leaving guests vulnerable to a variety of attacks.”

These attacks can have serious consequences, with hackers able to steal passwords, credit card information and personal messages. They can also install malware onto your device, which gives them access to your data even when you disconnect from the WiFi network.

In 2020, the FBI issued a warning encouraging Americans to “exercise caution” when using hotel wireless networks as more people began working from hotels during the pandemic.

“Accessing sensitive information from hotel Wi-Fi poses an increased security risk over home Wi-Fi networks,” they said. “Malicious actors can exploit inconsistent or lax hotel Wi-Fi security and guests’ security complacency to compromise the work and personal data of hotel guests.”

How to stay safe when connecting to hotel WiFi

To stay safe and protect your personal details, Cooke recommends using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

“A VPN encrypts your data traffic, making it unreadable to anyone trying to intercept it, even on an unsecured network,” he explained.

You can download a VPN onto your device online. Some are free while others require a free. Two of the biggest ones are NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

Another safe option is using your mobile data, although this isn’t always possible due to high tariffs and allowances abroad.

If you do have enough mobile data, you can use your phone’s Personal Hotspot to connect other devices to the internet.

Be cautious if you have to use hotel WiFi

In some cases, using the hotel WiFi is a necessity and you may not have time to set up a VPN. In that case, exercise caution.

“Avoid logging into financial accounts, online banking, or anything containing sensitive information while connected to public Wi-Fi,” he said.

A little extra vigilance will go a long way in protecting yourself from cyberattacks and stop the vacation from being “riddled with security concerns”.

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