Galloway is a Security professional for software giant Atlassian who has worked to solve security problems for over a decade. In his presentation, he stressed that yes, the innocuous router sitting at your Airbnb is worth hacking and that in fact, it’s these simple, widespread threats that can cause the most damage, not the threats from elite foreign governments, as the media would have you believe. Here’s how to understand and mitigate this threat, and keep yourself safe when getting on the wi-fi at your Airbnb – or any of the dozens of other short term rentals available as you travel.
Why Wi-fi Security at a Home Is No Better than at a Hotel
Ask a room of security professionals, like a group of BlackHat attendees, whether they are willing to connect to wi-fi without using some secondary form of protection, and the answer will be a resounding “No.” But plenty of business travelers operate under the assumption that wi-fi security is increased at an Airbnb as opposed to connecting to the same network as hundreds of other visitors. Well, it’s not. When you connect to a router, you’re potentially connecting to anyone who has had access to the router before you. Even if it seems like your browsing session was safe: no threats detected, no ghouls appearing on your screen — it’s the access to your system for future use that creates the potential for harm. Long after you return home, the monitoring of your traffic is one way you’ve become a target. The hacker sees that you’ve just purchased shoes on Zappos, and you receive a spoof email asking you to update credit card information. It’s noted that you’re in the middle of a real estate transaction, and you’re sent wire instructions that appear to be from the other professionals you’re working with.
How to Protect Your Data While Connecting to Wi-fi
According to the US Department of Homeland Security, the potential impacts of a compromised network include “…exposure of sensitive information, modification of trusted data, and injection of data.” Don’t let this happen to you, no matter where you’re connecting. You can use protection while traveling, working as a digital nomad, or settling in at a coworking space by using one or all of the following:
How to Provide Wi-fi Security for Visitors
If you’re putting your own property on the short term rental market, you probably know that in addition to pillows and towels, you’ve definitely got to offer wi-fi for your guests. But admit it: You spent more time choosing potpourri and doormats than you did researching how to purchase, setup, secure, and install the router. Literally anyone can be a hacker — a bored teenager who opted to stay in for the day rather than going sightseeing with the fam — and it’s insanely easy to breach the security of a wi-fi router. With 60 million users on Airbnb alone, chances are you will stay at or provide a short term rental sometime this year. Whether it’s with Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO, or any other service — these rentals provide millions of global opportunities for cyber attack. Follow these steps and keep your data secure.
