Most people are aware of the dangers of connecting to a Wi-Fi public, such as that of an airport. However, there are other networks just as dangerous which also carry significant risks for the cybersecurity of users, as warned Sean Carrola Wifi expert from the British company Spacelink Installations.
Specifically, Carrol has focused on the Wifi networks that airlines offer to their passengers to connect during a flight.
According to an article published by the British media Daily Expresscybercriminals They have the focus on this type of networks to be able to obtain confidential user data such as passwords or bank details.
To avoid falling into the trap before using one of these networks during a flight, it is a good idea to make sure you are connecting to the correct Wi-Fi. “Hackers can configure fake Wifi networks with names almost identical to those of the airline,” Carrol warned.
Therefore, if in doubt, it is best to ask the staff of the company. “They will know the correct network and can alert you if something suspicious happens,” adds this expert.
Another piece of advice from Carrol is use a VPN network to add an extra layer of security to our devices, although they may fail “occasionally” and not protect constantly. The ideal, according to Carrol, is to turn on the VPN before connecting to the airline’s Wi-Fi and “try to keep it active, especially when accessing private accounts or financial information,” he says.
Likewise, this expert insists on connecting only to secure websites, which are indicated as ‘HTTPS’ at the beginning of a web page address. “That extra ‘S’ means safe and prevent hackers from intercepting information you enter, such as passwords or payment details.”
Finally, Carrol advises against downloading files mid-flight. “If you’re downloading a book, no problem. But sensitive files, like work documents or bank statements, they must wait“, he suggests, so it is best to download them when you are using a trusted network. “Save them on your device before takeoff if you need them during the flight,” he concludes.