Claudia Gualdi, Travel Intelligence Data Team Lead at Riskline talks to ITIJ about The dangers of airport Wi-Fi for business travellers and the cyber risks associated with public Wi-Fi networks in airports. Read more about what business travellers and their employers should be doing to protect against them.
Public Wi-Fi exposes data and devices to a higher level of vulnerability, making it easier to corrupt or steal information. Public free networks at cafeterias, hotels, train stations and airports seem convenient for business travellers needing to work everywhere. Especially as over two-thirds (67 %) of business travellers were ‘very willing’ to travel in the next 12 months, according to the SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey. As more international conferences and business events are taking place, mobility between different hubs, offices, and headquarters results in more people travelling. Therefore there is a higher possibility that they’ll work outside of the company venues.
High Risks
Companies should prioritise cybersecurity when it comes to duty of care. Mitigation of cyber risks is crucial. Employers must ensure that business travellers’ devices are protected with all possible measures such as antivirus software, password management, or limited access privileges. On the other hand, employees should be aware of the risks coming from working outside of their workplaces, and the necessary steps to take to protect against being targeted. There is a higher risk for senior executives, who may have a more well-known public image, thus making them a more attractive target for hackers.
Red flags
Free Wi-Fi at airports or even in-flight may represent a great advantage for communications and for working in a time-efficient manner. However, these networks may bring certain risks that can jeopardise the critical information handled by business travellers. When it comes to public Wi-Fi networks or hotspots, it is not always easy to verify their safety. Fortunately, there are tips you can follow to identify risky networks. When the Wi-Fi doesn’t require any authentication steps, like a subscription or a password, consider it a red flag.
