When Barry and I were on the (very long) flight to Japan, he leaned over and asked, “I want to check our Morgan Stanley account. Do you think it’s OK to do it using the plane’s Wi-Fi?”
How did we live without Wi-Fi on a plane? Oh, yeah, we read magazines! Sorry to be the bearer of bad news — Wi-Fi isn’t as protected as we hope.
Fear not. I’ve got some tips on protecting yourself and surfing safely in the skies.
Up in the air
Hackers use all kinds of sneaky tactics to hijack your privacy in flight. One thing in their favor: VPNs are more likely to drop in and out in the air than on the ground. (More on that below.)
Without that layer of protection, cybercriminals using the same airline Wi-Fi can easily tap into your devices, access your information and spread malware.
“S” for security: Only visit encrypted websites — the ones that start with “HTTPS” (that “S” is important!). In general, this blocks a hacker from viewing your activity on a given site, like the password or credit card number you typed in.
Beware of AirDrop: Keyloggers keep track of every single thing you type, and criminals love to pass them along using Apple’s AirDrop feature. Don’t accept drops from strangers in flight. Steps here to disable or limit AirDrop if you need help.
Name game: Crooks can create fake Wi-Fi networks with almost identical names to the airline’s. If you’re not careful, you could plug into a copycat network instead of the legit one.
Sky-high safety
I know you’re not going to skip the Wi-Fi altogether. That’s OK — just be smart about it!
- Update your phone, computer, tablet or any other connected devices before your trip to ensure the tightest security possible.
- Turn on your VPN and double-check it’s active before doing anything that involves your personal information or financial details. FYI, I used ExpressVPN* on my way to and from Japan and was always connected. My link gives you three free months.
- Verify names. If you notice multiple Wi-Fi networks with similar names, check with the airline staff and confirm which is the right one.
- 2FA, my dear. Use two-factor authentication when logging into websites that have any tie to finances.
- Secure your devices. Invest in antivirus and malware-protection software. My pick is TotalAV.* Get a year for $19 for up to five devices.
- Stop looky loos. Get a privacy screen for your laptop to prevent nearby shoulder snooping. A def need when traveling.
Wonder how planes even get Wi-Fi? This vid explains — and why it can be so crappy, even when you pay $9.95 or more. (If you’re in a rush, start at the 2-minute mark.)
🪻 One of my favorite things about the flight to Japan? The lovely heated eye masks the Japan Airlines flight staff passed out. I liked them so much that I bought some for my team at the office!
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