News Article

Watch Out for Cyber Criminals' Hotel Hotspots

As a business owner or employee it can sometimes be tempting to log-in to work if you are away on business or even during your holidays to maybe catch up on emails etc.

If you’re tempted to use your hotel’s Wi-Fi you should remember that hotels specialise in hospitality and not cybersecurity!

Even if you have to log in with the hotel’s password every guest at the hotel is being given the same password as you and you will not know who else is using the network or how it is being managed.

Cyber criminals are known to set up fake hotspots with similar names to real ones trying to lure you on to theirs.

Ask hotel staff to clarify their exact network name so you can make sure you are accessing the hotel’s legitimate network. Always thoroughly check the website address is correct - hackers may have changed a letter or something equally small that is easy to miss.

You are advised not to start checking your bank accounts or using your social media accounts when you are on a public network of any kind. Hackers can intercept what you are sending to the server and see the details you are viewing and entering. You could quickly become the victim of electronic espionage, handing over potentially not just bank details, but corporate and private secrets too.

Attempts to infect your devices with malware are not uncommon within hotels. Cyber criminals have been known to make sophisticated attempts to encourage guests to click on infected files or hand over important personal details that could lead to identify theft. Always be very cautious about opening an email you are not expecting.

Make sure your devices are protected with firewalls and that anti-malware software is installed to detect any infected files that come your way. Do not open any email attachments, unless you are 100% sure that it is a clean file.

If you do wish to use the internet for banking etc you should invest in a Virtual Private Network (VPN) which will keep your identity hidden and encrypt your data. 

For moreadvice about cyber insurance please contact Nigel Kennedy on 07951 120328 or email nkennedy@reesastley.co.uk

 

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