85% of holidaymakers are worried they’ll get hacked
4 min read
Cancelled flights? These holidaymakers are more worried they’ll get hacked abroad. Over 85% of people in the US are scared of using public Wi-Fi on holiday. With nearly half of us going on vacation this summer, hackers have fresh targets.
The free Wi-Fi in hotels, airports, cafes, and restaurants is often not secure. The lack of encryption means that whatever you do online – the files you download, the messages you send, and the websites you visit – can be seen by hackers.
Cybercriminals often hang around public Wi-Fi spots because most people are unaware of how dangerous it is.Malware and viruses can be spread venomously through public Wi-Fi, since hackers can intercept the unencrypted connection and plant it on your device. You’re then susceptible to cascades of ads, barrages of spam, and botnet abuse.
“Hackers can set up fake hotspots or access unsecured public routers and monitor your online activity. Once you’re connected, they can intercept your internet traffic, infect your device with malware, and steal your personal information.”
Daniel Markuson, digital privacy expert at NordVPN.
Our survey found that half of us will use public Wi-Fi when we’re traveling, but 63% of us don’t even know if we’re using secure websites or not. Given these shocking statistics, it’s even more concerning that most of us aren’t using a VPN app (a virtual private network) abroad.
A VPN app will secure any public Wi-Fi connection. All you have to do is download the NordVPN app and switch it on to help secure yourself from cybercriminals. How easy is that? Yet 78% of people who were worried they’d get hacked using public Wi-Fi didn’t use one.
85% of respondents are afraid of getting hacked abroad, but 78% still don’t use a VPNNordVPN national US survey 2021
How can a VPN protect me from hackers?
A VPN is an app that secures you whenever you’re connected to public Wi-Fi, and hides you from hackers and cybercriminals. If you use NordVPN it will also stop you from visiting unsafe websites and protect your device from malware.
Switch NordVPN on whenever you’re abroad and use Wi-Fi — in hotels, airports, parks, malls, or restaurants. It’ll keep your connection truly private and secure online.
For extra protection from hackers abroad, use our travel checklist:
NordVPN’s travel smart checklist
- Use unique passwords: Create new passwords before you go abroad. If you’ve used the same password for all of your accounts and one gets hacked, it puts the rest at risk.
- Use a prepaid card: Instead of your main debit card, use a seperate prepaid debit card abroad. This way, if your card details get stolen, you haven’t lost your savings.
- Get a local SIM card: An easy way to avoid using public Wi-Fi abroad is by using a local SIM card on your phone. Mobile data is encrypted and keeps you a lot safer.
- Download NordVPN: Before you set off, remember to get the NordVPN app – it’s the quickest way to secure public Wi-Fi and your devices abroad. With one NordVPN login, you can protect up to 10 devices, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, and even your home router when you get home.