Almost 50 million travelers are expected to take to the streets or take to the skies this holiday weekend, according to AAA forecasts.
But can you guess who else is riding? Hacker.
During the holiday season for many, cyber criminals are busy collecting and exploiting your sensitive information.
These malicious attempts may have started at the planning stage (booking via fake car rental and hotel sites), when you are on the go (getting your details from free airport internet or stealing at gas stations) or whenever you have reached your destination (privacy breaches in tourist shops). or payment for non-existent excursions).
“Unfortunately, there are several travel-related risks you need to be aware of, from lodging fraud to having your data compromised over public Wi-Fi networks, which can allow cybercriminals to intercept your connection and gain access to sensitive financial information,” warns Kelly Merryman, president and chief operations officer at Aura, a leading digital security company.
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“Whether travelers are preparing for a road trip or packing a carry-on bag for a flight, they need to be aware that scammers are on the prowl and taking advantage of travelers through various fraud tactics,” confirms Paul Fabara, Visa’s chief risk officer. “And they’re getting more sophisticated: these scams can involve fake travel agencies and even fraudulent copycat airline websites.”
According to the FTC, consumers lost more than $95 million to vacation and travel scams in 2021 — and that was when traveling was easier due to the pandemic.
To ensure a smooth travel experience this holiday weekend, the experts suggest the following:
Use trusted, reputable websites
When transacting online – before or during your trip – always use websites whose URLs start with “https” instead of “http” because the “s” stands for secure. On the same subject : Bilt Rewards launches new travel portal, where card members can redeem points at 1.25 cents each.
“Make sure you also book air travel and accommodation directly with the airline, hotel, or any website you know,” Merryman suggests. “Be careful with people who rent their home through Facebook or other social media.”
In this context, rely on credit cards instead of debit cards. “If possible, make all purchases with a credit card, as they offer much more protection than debit cards,” adds Merryman. “Other ways to stay alert are notifying your bank of travel plans and regularly monitoring your credit card statements for suspicious activity.”
According to Fabara, it’s also a good idea to sign up for free text alerts when a “transaction exceeds a preset amount or when unusual card activity is detected.” Check with your card issuer for details.
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Shop in stores instead of online
In-store, using a payment card with a chip or contactless symbol on it protects your card details from theft in the event of a data breach, Fabara confirms, through an encryption technology called “tokenization.” This reduces the chances of fraud since store or restaurant staff never see your actual card number.
If you discover that your card has been lost or stolen, contact your card issuer immediately to report it. On the same subject : Sports Betting in Ohio: When it will be legalized, how to bet online, places to find choices, best promotions. Fabara also suggests updating your credentials “whether your actual card was stolen or just your account number, as well as changing your username, password and PIN to prevent further fraud.”
Avoid public Wi-Fi hotspots
Merryman warns travelers not to use free wireless internet in places like cafes, hotel lobbies and airport lounges. See the article : The Arena Group Appoints Miles Stiverson General Manager of Lifestyle.
“Hackers can hack a router, spy on a Wi-Fi connection, and even eavesdrop on conversations to steal personal information like credit card details, passwords for your social media accounts, and compromise your online banking accounts,” she says.
If you use your laptop on the go, consider creating a personal hotspot using your smartphone’s cellular connection instead. Note, however, that this will count against your cell phone’s data plan and find out about roaming tariffs outside the US.
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If you absolutely must use free public WiFi, at least run some VPN (Virtual Private Network) software to surf anonymously. A browser’s “private” or “incognito” mode is not the same, as these only clear your history and cookies when you close the browser session; What you do while online can still be seen by your service provider, advertisers and malicious types.
“Also, be sure to update security software and your operating system before shopping on your computer, tablet, or phone, as staying up to date will help patch known security vulnerabilities,” adds Fabara.
However, it is recommended not to enter personal information such as passwords and usernames, and to refrain from financial transactions such as online shopping, day trading or paying bills – until you are on a secure network.
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Other cyber-safe travel tips
Store digital copies of important documents. Store digital versions of important documents in a secure cloud app, accessible via your smartphone, and also make sure your device is secured with a complex password or facial recognition.
Watch out for snoopers over the shoulder. Consider a “privacy shield” (starting at $15) on your laptop to avoid prying onlookers. When they’re not directly in front of your screen where you’re sitting, it looks dimmed like the display is off. You buy one based on the make and model of the laptop and the screen size e.g. B. 11, 13, 14 or 17 inches.
Do not post your whereabouts on social media. While it may be tempting to post vacation photos at the moment, remember that these posts also convey the fact that your home is empty at the time. Instead, wait until you get home to be safe.
Stay away from shared PCs. Using a shared computer in a hotel’s business center or airport lounge is not ideal, as cybercriminals could covertly install software to capture the words (including passwords) you type. If you must, at least remember to log out of your online activities (like webmail service or social media account) before exiting and restarting the device.
Also, avoid public printers. Also, do not use public printers in a hotel’s business center, especially if they are sensitive financial or work documents, as these could also be hacked. And what about the print job that you think didn’t work? It might spit out those papers after you leave.
