Why you should never use the free hotel WiFi while on holiday
USING hotel WiFi while on holiday is often tempting, and can save you from being hit with a huge phone bill when you get home.
But hotel WiFi can actually be dangerous and you could be putting yourself at risk by logging on.
Free public WiFi connections, like the type you get in hotels, are not secure and can easily be hacked.
So logging on to sites that hold your sensitive information puts you at risk.
If you’re just surfing the web or checking the latest news, then the chances of hackers stealing your personal details are slim.
But if you’re logging into your bank account or buying something online, then hackers might be able to steal your information.
It’s safest not to log in to any sites that require you to enter a password, because hackers that are on the same network as you could steal it, and will be able to access your accounts remotely.
You should avoid any websites that hold sensitive information, like banking or shopping apps.
Fraudsters can also find personal details via your social media accounts, so you should avoid logging in to Facebook or Instagram.
But there is good news, you can still use your phone or laptop like normal while you’re in a hotel or airport.
The best way to do so is by using a secure virtual private network (VPN) which encrypts all of your data that passes through the WiFi .
Once you’ve bought the VPN, all you have to do is connect to hotel WiFi like normal, then activate the VPN programme.
As soon as it’s activated, the VPN kicks in, so you can use your device without worrying about hackers accessing your personal information.
While Britain was in the EU, Brits could roam freely in 28 countries. However, since Brexit, some networks have backtracked.
These are the networks which have announced they have reintroduced data roaming charges.
A man from Somerset was slapped with a £2,700 bill after he failed to notice his phone was on data roaming while he was on holiday.