Millions of Aussies are gearing up to head overseas in the next few months, as the weather gets colder here and the European summer calls. But while taking a holiday is meant to be fun, new research reveals a third of Australians have fallen victim to scams while travelling, with the majority being impacted financially. Even the savviest of travellers have been hoodwinked , after making simple mistakes like using public WiFi or over-posting to social media.
So what can you do to protect yourself? READ MORE: The best places to be a digital nomad in 2024 According to cybersecurity expert Tyler McGee from McAfee, the biggest mistakes Aussies make are all to do with our phones. This includes: "Cyber criminals are opportunists who exploit the mix of unfamiliar surroundings, increased distraction, and reliance on public WiFi Aussies may use when travelling," Tyler told 9Travel. "Added to this, many Aussies looking to secure bargain flights, hotels, and tours which opens them up to scammers offering deals that are too good to be true.
" The rise of AI is also making it harder to discern what's real and what's fake. READ MORE: How to check for bed bugs in your hotel While public charging stations are a common (and very handy!) feature in airports, using them could be putting you in danger of getting hacked. Public USB ports can be compromised by cyber criminals, allowing them to steal sensitive information transmitted between devices.
Meanwhile, public WiFi also poses .
