Hackers are threatening citizens' travel accounts. Is there a way to effectively protect them?
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A few days after booking a hotel room in Chiang Mai, Thailand, through Booking.com, Kay Pedersen received a disturbing email. It was a warning message from Booking.com in broken English, stating that there had been “some malicious activity” on account .
And then the problems began. A few days later, her husband, Steven, noticed a new booking at another hotel. And then another. The couple immediately reported the scam , and Booking.com canceled all of their hotels, including the one in Chiang Mai.
The Pedersens are not alone. A new malicious attack has hit many travelers. A few weeks ago, hackers reportedly stole passwords from Booking.com travel accounts via its internal messaging system. Other popular targets include loyalty program accounts and other travel accounts.
Why are travel accounts so vulnerable to attacks?
As Caroline McCaffery, CEO of ClearOPS, an AI-powered security program management platform, explains, these documents contain sensitive information, such as passports, driver's licenses, dates of birth, and travel dates.
See also: Greater Manchester Police: Police data breached
However, there are things you can avoid doing online to keep your account safe.
How to keep your online travel accounts safe from hackers:
- Use two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication (2FA) requires a special code, along with your password, to access your accounts. If you use 2FA, it's best to use an authenticator app instead of texts to receive 2FA codes, since hackers can also steal messages from your phone number.
- Enable login notifications: This way, you will know if someone has accessed your account.
- Don't repeat your password: Never use a simple password and never use the same password across multiple accounts.
- Choose secure Wi-Fi: Avoid connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, but if necessary, use a virtual private network (VPN). Hackers can easily capture your personal information on a public network.
- Yes, you're part of the problem: Of course, travelers are part of the problem. They use insecure passwords, don't take security measures, and connect to unsafe wireless networks. Avoid the above actions to protect your data.
See also: Brazil: Has the data of millions of citizens been leaked?
What techniques do hackers use to steal accounts?
Hackers use many techniques to steal accounts. One of them is phishing ,where the hacker creates a fake login page and tries to convince the user to enter their account details.
Another technique is the brute force, where the hacker tries to guess an account's password through repeated entry of different combinations.
Hackers may also use the keylogging technique, where they install malicious software on the computer that records every keystroke, thus revealing passwords.
A final technique is the Man-in-the-Middle attack, where the hacker interposes himself between the user and the server's communication, recording or modifying the data exchanged.
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Source: eu.usatoday
