Business travelers must be wary of connecting to public Wi-Fi
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Many business travelers put their critical information at risk when they are on the road. Using Wi-Fi connections at airports, restaurants and conference centers gives cybercriminals the chance to pursue their information, reported CNN.
Public Wi-Fi connections open up business travelers to a number of different data security problems they don't know about. Cybercriminals can be lurking in unsecured networks, waiting to access and steal information in a matter of seconds.
"One of the major ways data loss happens is when people are traveling," Sian John, UK security strategist at Symantec, told the news source. "You're not in a secure area ... That is where the risks tend to arise."
Computer hackers have even found ways to create fake hot-spots in airports and other public places that lure people in with a promise of free Wi-Fi. Once logged in, unsuspecting internet users are hit hard by hackers, who can sometimes take complete control of laptops and smartphones, Gary Davis, director of global consumer marketing for McAfee, told CNN.
Keeping critical information safe from hackers is very important for business travelers, which is why they should stay in corporate suites that offer safe Wi-Fi and internet connections.