We have all entered our favorite Starbucks,  Panera, hotel or other public place and connected via the free WiFi network.  It is convenient, easy and free.  Why wouldn’t you connect?  There is always a risk with a public WiFi node that people can read your messages and track your searches.  Yes they can … there is technology that allows them to do it on a non-protected (read that free) network.  But, there is an additional concern this summer.  According to Private:  Your Online Privacy Source,

This month, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center issued a stark warning to travelers:  If you use hotel Wifi hotspots abroad, you could get burned.  The alert says cybercriminals are targeting travelers abroad using pop-up windows that appear while they are trying to connect to the Internet through hotel Wifi.  The pop-ups tell hotel guests that they need to update a widely used software product.  But when they click to install it, what they get instead is malware on their laptops.

So, what can you do? If we follow our normal security procedures, download all software updates before you travel, only download updates directly form a vendor (and never click on a link in an email to do it), you are better prepared. You should also block popups because that is how the criminals advertise the software they want you to download.

In addition, if you use free WiFi spots, it would be good to use a Virtual Private Network (Private VPN).  The VPN encrypts all of your data thereby making  it useless to the criminal who might intercept it.  Without the VPN, your data is sent without any protection and someone with the right tools and abilities could intercept it and then use it for whatever purpose.  The Private article recommends using PRIVATE WiFi™.

Don’t ruin your vacation because you neglected security!