Key Takeaways
- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is warning people to avoid free airport Wi-Fi when traveling this holiday season.
- While a valuable perk, free public Wi-Fi is a hotbed for hackers to gain access to your sensitive data when you least expect it.
- Considering the serious cost of security breaches on businesses in 2025, this kind of small security snafu could have dire consequences.
The holiday season comes with an extra warning this year, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) warning people that free airport Wi-Fi is not a secure, reliable option when traveling.
Holiday traveling is stressful enough without having to worry about protecting your sensitive personal data from hackers. Unfortunately, free airport Wi-Fi has become a go-to hunting ground for hackers looking to gain access to your information.
There are some solutions that can help you mitigate the risks, but this year, it might be best to download your movies and books before you get to the airport, particularly considering how much a security breach could cost your business.
TSA Warning: Don’t Use Free Airport Wi-Fi
The TSA has issued a warning to holiday travelers that they should do their absolute best to avoid using free airport Wi-Fi while waiting for their flights.
More importantly, though, the TSA has explained that, if you absolutely must use airport Wi-Fi, you should definitely avoid making any purchases. In fact, you shouldn’t be inputting or even looking at any sensitive data when your device is connected to public networks.
This just in! View
the top business tech deals for 2025 👨💻
If you can’t imagine traveling with access to free public Wi-Fi at the airport, there are some workarounds. The TSA notes that a VPN “adds an extra layer of security from your computer to whatever server you’re accessing,” which will protect you from the worst consequences of this kind of activity.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Free Airport Wi-Fi
Free airport Wi-Fi is admittedly a very attractive perk when you’re traveling. Whether you’re stuck with a long delay and want to do some social media scrolling or your flight is about to start boarding and you don’t have a movie downloaded yet, these handy networks can provide a bit of respite during a long day at the airport.
Unfortunately, as is often the case with free services, airport Wi-Fi is too good to be true, as it often becomes a hunting ground for hackers. The insecure networks allow cybercriminals to potentially intercept your sensitive data, like passwords and financial records, which can lead to security breaches and identity theft.
This isn’t just theoretical, either. Just last week, an Australian man was jailed for seven years for creating “evil twin” WiFi networks at airports to steal sensitive data from unsuspecting travelers.
The Cost of Getting Hacked
If you think that the convenience of free airport Wi-Fi is worth the security risk, we can assure you that it’s not. Whether you’re an employee or an executive at your company, these kinds of breaches can be a huge problem.
For starters, the majority of security breaches stem from some kind of human error. As a result, businesses need to train employees on how to stay secure, particularly when it comes to unsecured networks like the kind found at airports.
Risking a security breach isn’t an option for many businesses, either, given the fact that the average cost of a security breach is approximately $10 million. Suffice to say, you’ll want to stick to data during your next trip.
