Is airport Wi-Fi safe? What you need to know before connecting

Flying is one of the easiest ways to get around, with over 4.4 billion passengers being carried around by planes each year. And since most airports now offer public Wi-Fi, it’s tempting to connect without a second thought. But behind the convenience, there are some serious security risks. In this article, we tackle the most common questions about using airport Wi-Fi and share how you can stay safe while browsing in the terminal.

Are Wi-Fi networks at airports safe?

The advance of technology is a double-edged sword. It’s natural to assume that technological progress leads to improved security, especially when it comes to public Wi-Fi networks. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Bad actors are also taking advantage of these advancements, particularly in miniaturization and the decreasing cost of devices that can mimic mobile internet hotspots. While some of these devices may only cost a few hundred dollars, the potential damage they can cause could be worth thousands or even millions.

Additionally, in many airports (as it is with other public places), the responsibility for providing Wi-Fi falls on third-party companies, meaning the airport itself often has hardly anything to do with protecting the network from malicious activity. This is important to keep in mind, especially since airport security is among the tightest in public spaces and therefore it’s easy to assume that the Wi-Fi there is equally well-protected.

So, bottom line, public Wi-Fi networks at airports are anything but safe.

Are public Wi-Fi networks at airports safer now than they were before?

Public Wi-Fi networks are hardly safer now than they were before. For example, twinning attacks (also known as ‘evil twin’ attacks) — where an attacker sets up a fake Wi-Fi access point in the hopes that a potential victim connects to it instead of a legitimate one — are arguably easier to pull off today. This is due to the increased gullibility of people at airports and the small size of the devices needed for the attack, which can easily fit in the palm of a hand, making them appear inconspicuous.

When it comes to gullibility, people have become increasingly accustomed to public Wi-Fi. Since they are usually in a hurry at airports, they don’t think twice about connecting to a trustworthy-sounding public Wi-Fi network. These three key factors — the falsely presumed security of airport Wi-Fi (based on the notion that the airport itself is one of the most secure places in the world), the rush to get to their destination, and the ubiquity of public Wi-Fi services — contribute to making attacks targeting Wi-Fi users at airports more effective, not less.

How can you tell if an airport Wi-Fi network is safe?

First, you should check the network name. The correct name should be displayed somewhere in the airport, and if you’re unsure, ask the staff for confirmation. Twinning attacks are effective because bad actors set up Wi-Fi networks with similarly-sounding names. Watch out for spelling errors, extra dashes, or small differences. In other words, take your time, even if you’re in a rush. Also, make sure the website uses secure HTTPS before entering your credentials. Simply put, the URL of the website you’re connecting to should begin with https:// — the “s” indicates that the connection is encrypted.

Even these precautions do not guarantee that your airport Wi-Fi experience will be safe. There are more sophisticated types of attacks that are harder to pull off, but can still happen. A good rule of thumb is to assume that public Wi-Fi is never really safe.

Does using a VPN fully protect you on airport Wi-Fi?

A VPN will encrypt all of your internet connections, making them safer even on unsecured networks. So yes, using a VPN will protect sensitive data, such as social media logins, passwords, and banking details, from being stolen. When you’re connected to a VPN, even if someone intercepts your data, they won’t be able to make sense of it. This is because the data will be scrambled into an unreadable format, and can only be deciphered with a special decryption key that the attacker does not have.

To unscramble the data, the attacker would need the decryption key, and it’s highly unlikely that they would go to such lengths to retrieve your specific data. Usually, people who carry out these types of attacks are looking for easy targets — people who aren’t using protective measures like a VPN.

How to make sure you’re safe when using an airport Wi-Fi network?

Probably the most surefire way to avoid any trouble is to use your mobile hotspot at the airport. But, if you absolutely need to use an airport Wi-Fi network, then, firstly, check its name, and the website’s URL, and always use it with a VPN on.

Also, I would still not recommend sending important files while connected to a public Wi-Fi network, and input your passwords and logins, especially those from your banking accounts, while connected to public Wi-Fi.