Taking advantage of Holy Week, thousands of people have organized trips to break free from their routines, many of them through digital platforms. However, the increase in this practice, along with the use of public Wi-Fi, raises the risk of experiencing a cyberattack. In light of this situation, ESET has shared a series of tips that can be very helpful in keeping us safe from thieves.
Booking Frauds: An Increasingly Common Risk
Holy Week represents an opportunity for cybercriminals, who exploit the high demand for accommodations and transportation to launch fraudulent websites that impersonate recognized platforms like Booking or Airbnb. These misleading sites aim to capture payments or personal data from unsuspecting users.
According to the 2024 Consumer Fraud Report from the Spanish Association of Companies Against Fraud (AEECF), 90% of consumers have been targeted by fraud attempts in the past year, and 11% of them ended up being victims of a scam. Additionally, 12% of affected individuals suffered losses exceeding 5,000 euros. Therefore, ESET recommends following these tips to avoid becoming a victim of booking fraud:
- Verify the website URL: Make sure the address starts with “https://” and belongs to the official domain of the platform.
- Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true: If the price is significantly lower than usual, it may be a scam.
- Avoid bank transfer payments: Opt for secure methods like credit cards or platforms like PayPal.
- Check reviews and references: Look through comments from other users and verify if the accommodation is listed on multiple reliable sites.
The Danger of Public Wi-Fi Networks
While traveling, public Wi-Fi networks in airports, stations, cafes, and hotels become a common resource for staying connected. However, these open connections can be exploited by cybercriminals to intercept sensitive data such as passwords, banking information, or emails.
According to the same AEECF report, 32% of digital fraud is conducted via SMS, followed by email (29%) and messaging applications like WhatsApp (12%). This highlights the importance of maintaining secure digital practices even during vacations. To minimize risks when connecting to public networks, ESET advises:
- Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network): It protects the connection by encrypting data and preventing unauthorized access.
- Avoid conducting sensitive transactions: Such as banking operations or accessing private services from open networks.
- Disable automatic Wi-Fi connection: To prevent the device from connecting without control to insecure networks.
- Enable two-factor authentication: On platforms such as email, social media, or online banking.
“We all want to take advantage of vacation periods to get some much-deserved rest and relaxation. However, we cannot allow this relaxation to influence our cybersecurity habits,” comments Josep Albors, head of research and awareness at ESET Spain. “To ensure our vacations go smoothly, we must be aware that cybercriminals will try to take advantage of the situation and act accordingly,” he adds.