You step off a long flight, find your hotel, and the first thing you look for is the Wi-Fi password.You connect, clear your inbox, log into your streaming account to unwind and maybe check your bank balance before dinner.
It all feels harmless because we all do it.But that one travel habit can quietly put your passwords, accounts and personal information at risk.Public Wi-Fi is convenient for you.It can also be convenient for the person sitting three tables over with a laptop and bad intentions.THE TEMPTATIONS AND RISKS OF FREE WI-FIA traveler connects to hotel Wi-Fi, a common habit that can put personal accounts at risk when the network is not protected.
(iStock)Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportMost public networks send your data through the air on a network you do not control.When a network is open, anyone connected to it may be able to use simple tools to watch traffic patterns, spot unencrypted activity or try to redirect you to fake login pages.
Security researchers call this packet sniffing.Modern HTTPS protects most usernames and passwords, but not every app, site or connection handles security perfectly.
That is where public Wi-Fi can still get risky fast.Then there are the fake networks.A hacker sets up a hotspot named something friendly like "Airport_Free_Wi-Fi" or "Hotel Guest," and travelers connect without a second thought.
Once you're on their network, everything you do passes through their hands first.This trick is common enough that it has a name: the evil twin attack.APPLE FIXES PASSWORDS APP VULNERABILITY ENABLING WI-FI ATTACKSHere's the part most people miss.
Stealing your password is not the only goal.When you log into a service, your device gets a small file called a session token that keeps you signed in.
If an attacker can trick you onto a fake network, push you toward a fake login page or exploit a poorly protected connection, that token or login can become a target.That is how a quick hotel Wi-Fi session can turn into someone hijac...