Two in three Dutch people use public Wi-Fi whilst on holiday: these are the risks

Two in three Dutch people are at risk whilst on holiday because they use public Wi-Fi networks. This is according to a representative research by web hosting provider TransIP among 1,052 Dutch people. Malicious actors may use rogue networks to attempt to manipulate traffic, redirect users to fake websites or collect data for more targeted phishing attacks.

TransIP’s survey reveals that more than one in five Dutch people use public Wi-Fi for all sorts of purposes whilst on holiday. A third do so only for matters they do not consider privacy-sensitive. A further one in eight respondents use public Wi-Fi only via a secure VPN connection.

Online banking and email are particularly vulnerable

In particular, online banking, checking (business) emails and viewing cloud files on a public network carry risks. These risks are considerably greater than, for example, reading the news or checking a restaurant’s opening hours. However, even “just browsing” is not entirely risk-free. For example, a public network can reveal which websites or services someone is connecting to. A malicious individual could also set up a network with a name similar to that of a hotel, campsite or café. Users would then think they are connected to the official network, whilst their traffic is actually routed through an attacker’s equipment. Login details for email, cloud storage or business accounts can then be used to read messages, reset passwords, intercept invoices or payment requests, or send messages on the victim’s behalf. Even less sensitive data, such as which websites someone visits or which services they use, can be exploited for more targeted phishing. A fake email becomes more credible when, for example, an attacker already knows which bank someone uses or where they work.

Use a VPN or your own mobile data

A VPN connection reduces the risks. Such a connection encrypts the traffic between your device and the VPN server, meaning that the local Wi-Fi network cannot normally see which websites you are visiting or what data is being sent. However, anyone who enters their details on a fake website or uses a malicious VPN app is still at risk. The safest option therefore remains simply using your own mobile data plan. These days, this is much less expensive whilst on holiday than it used to be, when roaming charges abroad could quickly run into tens or even hundreds of euros. Anyone who does not have unlimited internet and is worried about using a lot of data whilst on holiday can, if they have a dual-SIM or eSIM device, take out a temporary extra data bundle or a SIM-only subscription that can be cancelled monthly. This means you’re less likely to need to rely on public Wi-Fi.