A Connected World: Why we shouldn’t rely on WiFi alone when traveling.

In today’s world, access to the internet is becoming more and more common place. From hotel WiFi, to widespread public access points, including access onboard many airlines, travelers no longer need to search far and wide for that precious wireless signal. Yet, not all things which are easy to obtain are necessarily beneficial. That is why we set out this week to evaluate WiFi as an internet source for travelers, and hope to expose a much safer alternative which still hits all the highs of WiFi without so many of the lows.

The allure of free, or even pay-per-use WiFi is almost too much for a traveler to resist. The convenience of checking our messages while sipping back that espresso, or munching on those McDonald’s fries; the freedom to sit at the hotel pool watching YouTube instead of being chained by an Ethernet cable; even the perceived “penny-pinching” of finding free networks are all reasons we tend to turn to public hotspots. But is there a hidden cost to WiFi that goes beyond currency?

In a recent study, Internet security provider F-Secure sought out to demonstrate the hazards of WiFi hotspots by hacking three British politicians. With minimal effort, the company and its team was able to access their email and social media accounts, PayPal information, and even intercept and record their phone conversations1. Despite the use of government issued devices, and stronger-than-usual passwords, their very private and perhaps even classified information was easily snagged via the public signals they were connected to.

Other investigations have revealed the establishment of fake WiFi hotspots by cyber criminals2, as well as reports of security issues with wireless routers distributed to hotels and convention centres around the globe3. These compromised routers allow attackers to completely drain the networks’ data, including the personal information found on any device connected to the free WiFi.

Incidents such as these are unfortunately not isolated cases. Yet, travelers eagerly and carelessly piggyback on any available signal. We ourselves are guilty of such risky behaviour.

So what can be done?

The simple solution: use cellular data! Let’s examine the facts:

• WiFi means freedom from Ethernet cables. Yet, cellular data goes even further, allowing users to surf beyond the walls of hotels, cafés, or shopping centres.

• WiFi is easily accessed but providers often require users to agree to terms and conditions where they are often unknowingly consenting to the collection of personal information. This is not true of cellular data.

• WiFi providers also frequently block access to certain websites (e.g., hotels are known to block Netflix to encourage the purchase of pay-per-view movies4). Cellular data has no such limitations.

• WiFi requires users share a signal with countless others, consequently slowing their experience and exposing them to the hidden risks we previously touched on.

The drawback? Cellular data is notoriously expensive. Though true freedom and safety in mobility should be worth any cost, many travelers decide to chance it with public WiFi to save some change. By digging a little deeper, though, we’ve found that even the most budget-conscious jetsetters can find international data packages that meet their needs. Obtaining a local SIM card within the country of travel*, or purchasing an international SIM card can offer savings that go beyond the “deals” major carriers offer**.

Still bent on using WiFi?

Though the only way to definitively avoid risks is by using cellular data, travelers can still take steps to protect themselves. Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one such option. VPNs create a secure connection with a private network which ensure communications are encrypted or protected. The cost of VPNs vary from company to company, and these services can be found in the form of applications that are downloaded on each mobile device†.

Have any further questions?

Leave them in a comment below or follow us on social media! We would love to hear for you, and are committed to helping you get the most out of your travel experiences.

*Laws and regulations in certain countries may prevent travelers from obtaining such access (e.g., in Canada, proof of address and credit history are needed). MyPhone2Go offers travelers in Canada a local SIM card loaded with 750mB of data per day, as well as unlimited nationwide calling, and global texting.

**Major carriers offer international data packages for costs which still exceed the rate offered by some international SIM cards (e.g., data use in Asia: $70 for 20mB (Rogers5) versus $0.10/mB (MyPhone2Go).

†MyPhone2Go offers VPN services free of charge on all of our rental devices, which are available for $8/day.

#travel #roaming #WiFi #internet