Some airlines offer in-flight Internet service through Wi-Fi networks, allowing passengers to stay connected during their flights. However, this practice can pose security risks, according to ESET, a company specialized in proactive threat detection.
According to ESET, this year the Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested an individual accused of creating and using fake Wi-Fi networks at airports and domestic flights in order to obtain personal and sensitive information from users. Camilo Gutiérrez Amaya, Head of the ESET Latin America Research Laboratory, commented on this: 'The Australian Federal Police arrested a man for creating spoofed Wi-Fi networks that mimicked legitimate networks, with the aim of deceiving passengers and obtaining their personal data.'
ESET recommended following good practices and being aware of specific security advice to ensure a pleasant and safe flight. According to the AFP's Cyber Crime Unit, when connecting to a free Wi-Fi network, personal information should not be provided, such as logging in with an email or social media account.
It is advisable to change passwords after using free Wi-Fi networks at airports or domestic flights and to report any suspicious activity. During such connections, caution should be exercised when visiting sites that do not require personal information, in addition to disabling services such as online banking, emails, social media, and other applications that request access data. It is also recommended to use a VPN when connecting from a work device to keep information encrypted and to set the device to confirm before connecting, avoiding automatic connections to open networks.
It is vital to have an antimalware solution installed on both laptops and mobile devices, keeping it updated to prevent the entry of potentially harmful applications. The company highlighted the importance of being cautious and following these security measures to protect personal information when using Wi-Fi networks in public settings such as airports and domestic flights.
