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Tech News 18th August 2017 1453

How Secure Is Free Wifi At Your Hotel?

Staying over at a hotel soon and using its free Wifi? Then watch out, your information is at risk.

Cyber security specialists, FireEye, published a blog last week claiming that APT28, a Russian hacking group is now targeting and penetrating open networks in the hospitality industry, particularly hotels.

The report sets out that a wave of attacks on European and Middle Eastern hotel chains has been recorded and analysed. Phishing emails were used to trick hotel employees into downloading an infected room reservation document. This is said to have unleashed a malware called Gamefish which, in turn, opened gateways to the entire networks of the organisations affected.

FireEye claimed that these activities were traced back to same servers that are alleged to be run by APT28 and were involved on attempts to influence recent elections in serval countries. So, what does this mean for the average weary traveller? Well, if true, these hackers would not be after your holiday snaps or WhatsApp messages back to Granny, but usernames and passwords along with sensitive business and political information would certainly be on the wanted list.

Many of those who stay in hotels run by leading brands will have some information that would be deemed important to keep secure because of its commercial or political sensitivity.

But the modern spy, it seems, thrives on electronic snippets that can be mined through the pipework of the Internet.

Specialists advocate strongly that anyone who carries information of the slightest sensitivity on their devices should ensure that it is encrypted and use their own mobile hotspots in preference to public networks when the travel.

PC PAL Team

PC PAL is the UK's award winning Computer, Laptop, Mac & Smartphone support specialists, with experienced, qualified & local Computer Engineers based in your area. We are a name that local people have come to recognise and trust.

Please take a moment to read our feedback from our loyal customers, or find your local PC PAL Engineer.

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