Hotel and airport Wi-Fi networks have become ubiquitous features of modern travel, offering essential connectivity to millions of guests and travelers daily. However, the convenience of these networks masks significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities that place both personal and sensitive corporate data at considerable risk. According to recent findings, over 5 million public unsecured global Wi-Fi networks were identified since the beginning of 2025, with approximately 33 percent of users connecting to these public unsecured networks. This alarming statistic underscores the critical importance of understanding the threats inherent in hotel and airport Wi-Fi environments and the protective mechanisms—particularly secured VPN gateways—that can mitigate these risks. This comprehensive analysis examines the multifaceted threat landscape of public Wi-Fi networks in hospitality and travel settings, evaluates the technical efficacy of VPN gateway solutions, and provides evidence-based recommendations for both individual travelers and organizational infrastructure planners seeking to implement robust security measures that balance convenience with protection.
The Escalating Threat Landscape for Public Wi-Fi Networks in Travel Environments
Hotel and airport Wi-Fi networks represent uniquely attractive targets for cybercriminals for several interconnected reasons that combine high-value targets with environmental vulnerabilities. Unlike corporate networks protected by dedicated security teams and comprehensive infrastructure investments, public Wi-Fi networks in travel settings prioritize guest convenience over rigorous security protocols, creating what security researchers describe as a perfect storm for exploitation. The statistical reality is sobering: 25 percent of travelers are hacked while using public Wi-Fi abroad, and 40 percent of people have had their information compromised while using public Wi-Fi networks. These numbers represent far more than abstract statistics—they translate into real individuals whose vacations become identity theft nightmares, whose bank accounts are drained, and whose sensitive information is compromised for years to come.
The fundamental architecture of hotel and airport Wi-Fi creates inherent security weaknesses that persist despite incremental improvements. Hotels often prioritize accessibility and speed for guests over encryption and advanced security protocols, creating networks that function much like any other public hotspot where dozens or hundreds of guests connect simultaneously. An individual guest cannot control or verify the security measures that a hotel has implemented, cannot monitor the network for attacks, and generally must trust that the hotel has properly secured their network and is monitoring it for malicious activity—a trust that is frequently misplaced. Many hotel networks still rely on outdated security protocols or basic authentication methods like room numbers and last names, easily guessed or intercepted by attackers. Worse yet, some hotels outsource their network management to third-party vendors with minimal oversight or security expertise, increasing the risk of misconfiguration or backdoors. The FBI has issued multiple warnings over the years about the dangers of hotel Wi-Fi, particularly in high-profile cities and near conference venues where executives and professionals are likely to stay.
The behavioral dimension of travel also amplifies vulnerability. Travelers often find themselves rushed, distracted, and eager to stay connected, making them less vigilant about security practices they might otherwise observe at home or at work. When connecting to public Wi-Fi in busy areas such as airports, coffee shops, and hotels, individuals’ chances of getting hacked increase dramatically because nearly anyone can connect, especially if the network lacks password protection or has weak to no encryption standards. The combination of physical exhaustion, jet lag, multiple urgent tasks, and the ambient pressure to stay connected creates cognitive conditions where security warnings are easily dismissed or overlooked entirely. This psychological dimension of public Wi-Fi vulnerability is often underestimated in threat models but represents a critical real-world factor in successful attacks.
Anatomy of Common Attacks on Hotel and Airport Wi-Fi Networks
Understanding the specific attack vectors used by cybercriminals to compromise hotel and airport Wi-Fi users is essential for appreciating why conventional security measures prove inadequate and why VPN gateway solutions address these threats at a fundamental architectural level. The most common and sophisticated attacks employ multiple techniques that exploit the inherent characteristics of public Wi-Fi environments.
Man-in-the-middle attacks represent perhaps the most prevalent and dangerous threat in hotel and airport Wi-Fi settings. In a man-in-the-middle attack, the hacker secretly intercepts and possibly alters the communication between two parties, with the user believing they are directly communicating with a website, email server, or another user, when the hacker is relaying the information and capturing sensitive data in the process. The attacker positions themselves between the user’s device and the connection point, intercepting all data traffic. Instead of the user’s data going directly to its intended destination, it first passes through the hacker’s system, giving them access to everything: emails, passwords, credit card information, and even business credentials. On an unsecured hotel network, this attack is trivially easy to execute—any attacker with basic packet-sniffing tools can position themselves on the same network and begin capturing traffic immediately.
Evil twin attacks and rogue access points represent a particularly deceptive variant of man-in-the-middle attacks that exploit user confusion and the difficulty of distinguishing legitimate from illegitimate networks. Hackers set up their own Wi-Fi networks with names that closely mimic the hotel’s legitimate network, such as using “HotelGuestWiFi” versus “Hotel_Guest_WiFi” or creating subtle variations designed to fool users. These rogue networks often have a stronger signal than the legitimate network and may even intercept credentials or sensitive data as soon as the user connects. The miniaturization of digital twinning technology has made this kind of cyberattack increasingly appealing to hackers, with the technology to pull it off available for less than $500. Once a user connects to a rogue hotspot established by an attacker, the attacker can monitor all traffic, capture any sensitive data transmitted, observe the user’s online activity, or even inject malware directly into the user’s device.
Packet sniffing attacks operate at a more fundamental level than many users realize, exploiting the unencrypted nature of most public Wi-Fi traffic. Public Wi-Fi networks, especially those without proper encryption like WPA2, allow hackers to “listen” to data being transmitted over the network. Tools like packet analyzers can capture unencrypted traffic, making it easy for hackers to extract sensitive information. Any attacker with a basic packet-sniffing tool can easily intercept unprotected data, and this data may include usernames and passwords, emails, or other sensitive information. The technical barrier to entry is remarkably low—widely available open-source tools enable even relatively unsophisticated attackers to capture and analyze network traffic in real time.
Session hijacking attacks represent a particularly insidious threat that exploits the way web applications manage user authentication. Session hijacking occurs when an attacker hijacks a session between a client and server, such as a login session on a website, potentially allowing the attacker to gain unauthorized access to accounts or services. Attackers can intercept cookies from unsecured connections, allowing them to hijack active sessions and gain access to email accounts, social media, or even bank accounts without needing the actual login credentials. This attack is particularly dangerous because users may not immediately realize their session has been compromised—the hijacker can continue using the account while the legitimate user remains unaware.
DNS hijacking and DNS spoofing attacks redirect users to fraudulent websites designed to harvest credentials or distribute malware. In these attacks, the attacker manipulates DNS responses to redirect users to unauthorized or malicious destinations. A hacker can navigate around the network’s DNS protocol, allowing them to redirect traffic from different users to malicious sites they control. As a user tries to visit what they believe is a legitimate site, the hacker navigates them to a malicious one, potentially downloading malware onto their device or presenting a spoofed login page designed to capture credentials. These attacks often go undetected because users see what appears to be their intended website, complete with matching domain names rendered through DNS spoofing techniques.
Malware distribution through compromised hotel Wi-Fi represents an increasingly common attack vector that leverages the trust users place in corporate networks. Hackers can use an unsecured Wi-Fi connection to distribute malware, sometimes managing to hack connection points themselves, causing pop-up windows to appear offering fake software updates that actually install malicious code on users’ devices. Once a user’s device is infected with malware, the attacker gains persistent access to their system, enabling data theft, monitoring of user activity, or enrollment of the device in a botnet for launching attacks against other targets.
Captive portal attacks exploit the legitimate captive portal technology that many hotels use to manage network access. Fraudulent login pages may request unnecessary personal details or deliver malware. Many public Wi-Fi networks require users to pass through a login or terms acceptance page before granting access, and hackers can replicate these pages to capture login credentials or other personal information. These spoofed captive portals can harvest email addresses, phone numbers, or even social login credentials that users can then exploit for future phishing or credential-stuffing attacks.
Statistical Reality of Public Wi-Fi Compromises and Industry Incidents
The abstract understanding of threats becomes far more concrete when examining real-world incidents and statistical data documenting the scope and impact of public Wi-Fi compromises. The statistics paint an alarming picture of the actual risks that travelers face when connecting to unsecured networks. According to comprehensive data, 25 percent of travelers are hacked while using public Wi-Fi abroad, 40 percent of people have had their information compromised while using public Wi-Fi networks, one in four Wi-Fi hotspots are waiting to be hacked, and 78 percent of people don’t use VPN protection while connected to public Wi-Fi during travel. These figures represent a systemic failure in security awareness and implementation across both users and service providers.
The travel and tourism sector ranks third globally in cyberattacks, with 70 percent of travel companies reporting a data breach. Over 5 million public unsecured global Wi-Fi networks have been identified since the beginning of 2025, with 33 percent of users connecting to these networks. The geographic distribution of mobile malware threats reveals that Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, experience some of the highest volumes of malicious activity, with these regions becoming frequent targets for threat actors leveraging sideloaded apps, malicious links, and insecure network access. Interestingly, major U.S. cities like Los Angeles, New York, Portland, Miami, and Seattle are also experiencing increased mobile malware activity, particularly during peak travel months.
The hospitality industry specifically has experienced devastating cyberattacks with profound financial and operational consequences. The Marriott International breach, announced in 2018, represented one of the largest data breaches in history, with hackers accessing the reservation system of its Starwood brand and compromising the data of up to 500 million guests. The breach, which began in 2014 and remained undetected for four years, exposed names, email addresses, passport numbers, credit card details, and travel histories. Marriott paid a $52 million settlement to 50 U.S. states in 2024 and faced an £18.4 million fine from the UK’s data watchdog for GDPR violations. The 2024 Otelier breach, affecting a cloud-based hotel management platform used by over 10,000 hotels including Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt, exposed 7.8 terabytes of data containing millions of guest records. The breach active from July to October 2024 compromised over 437,000 unique email addresses.
Beyond these massive incidents, smaller but still significant breaches continue to plague the industry. The average cost of a hospitality data breach has climbed to $4.03 million in 2025. In March 2024, Omni Hotels & Resorts suffered a major cyberattack that forced multiple IT systems offline, disrupting reservations, payment processing, and digital room key access. MGM Resorts International reported a massive cyberattack in mid-2023 resulting in over $100 million in costs and the theft of unspecified amounts of personal guest information. The MGM incident began with a social engineering attack carried out by the threat group Scattered Spider through a vishing call to the company’s helpdesk, where an attacker impersonated an employee and convinced a helpdesk employee to help them gain access to a super administrator account.
These incidents collectively demonstrate that the threats facing travelers are not theoretical vulnerabilities but rather active, ongoing exploitation by sophisticated threat actors who have proven their ability to compromise major hospitality and travel infrastructure with devastating consequences. The financial impact extends far beyond the direct costs of the breach—reputational damage, guest trust erosion, legal liability, operational disruption, and recovery expenses create a compounding financial burden that fundamentally affects business viability.
Understanding VPN Gateway Technology and VPN Security Protocols
Virtual Private Networks represent the most widely deployed solution for securing traffic over public Wi-Fi networks, operating through fundamentally different architectural approaches that work at various layers of network communication. A virtual private network gateway is a server-based technology that manages secure connections between endpoints and a corporate network by encrypting data and enforcing security protocols to protect remote employees and keep unauthorized users out. The gateway essentially acts as the gatekeeper for any remote access, implementing encryption and security protocols that transform potentially exposed public network traffic into a protected encrypted tunnel.
VPN technology operates by creating encrypted tunnels between a user’s device and the VPN server, ensuring that sensitive information travels safely over the public internet. The encrypted connection helps ensure that sensitive data is safely transmitted, with various security protocols establishing a trusted link often using an encryption key to lock down data packets as they move back and forth. In many setups, the VPN server authenticates a remote worker through established credentials, confirming identity before granting them permission to securely access internal resources. Once inside the VPN tunnel, the gateway’s security measures monitor network traffic to maximize connectivity and encrypt data in motion.
VPNs function at different layers of the OSI model, fundamentally affecting their security properties and operational characteristics. The National Institute of Standards and Technology defines SSL VPNs as operating at the transport layer of the OSI model, which provides connection-oriented or connectionless services for transporting application layer services across networks. Controls at this layer can protect data in a single communications session between two hosts, with SSL representing the most frequently used transport layer control. In contrast, IPsec VPNs operate at the network layer, which routes packets across networks and can protect both the data within packets and the IP information for each packet. This architectural difference means that SSL VPNs primarily secure specific applications accessed through a web browser, while IPsec VPNs encrypt all network traffic regardless of application.
The fundamental purpose of VPN gateways for securing public Wi-Fi traffic is to prevent the interception and analysis of user data by attackers on the same network. When a VPN encrypts an entire internet connection from the user’s device to the VPN server, it hides the user’s activity, making it harder for attackers to access the data. However, it is essential to recognize that while VPNs significantly reduce risk for communications that occur over public networks, they cannot eliminate all risk for such communications. One potential problem is the strength of the implementation—flaws in an encryption algorithm or the software implementing the algorithm could allow attackers to decrypt intercepted traffic. Random number generators that do not produce sufficiently random values could provide additional attack possibilities. Another issue is encryption key disclosure—an attacker who discovers a key could not only decrypt traffic but potentially also pose as a legitimate user.
VPN Solutions: OpenVPN versus WireGuard and Protocol Considerations
The choice between VPN protocols fundamentally affects the security profile and operational characteristics of a VPN solution, with OpenVPN and WireGuard representing the two dominant protocols deployed in modern VPN implementations. Both protocols have gained widespread adoption among security-conscious users and organizations, yet they embody different design philosophies that produce distinct tradeoffs between security, performance, and compatibility.
OpenVPN represents the older and more mature protocol, having been available for twenty years and serving as a proven standard in security VPN deployments. OpenVPN uses the OpenSSL library of algorithms, which provides a wide choice of ciphers, hashes, and key exchanges including AES, Blowfish, Camellia, ChaCha20, Poly1305, SHA-256, RSA, and DSA. This flexibility allows OpenVPN to be configured in both TCP and UDP modes, which helps optimize speed over short and long-distance connections. The variety and customizability makes OpenVPN highly flexible and able to fit many different circumstances, even allowing configuration to use older, less secure ciphers if necessary. However, the downside of this flexibility is that the protocol is rather code-heavy, which is one of the main reasons why OpenVPN tends to be slower than WireGuard.
OpenVPN is compatible with a wide range of devices and operating systems, offering this protocol as a tried-and-proven option that many businesses prioritize for security deployments. The protocol supports adding custom directives within its configuration, allowing fixed IP address allocation to VPN clients or traffic redirection through a proxy server. OpenVPN offers features like network bridging and split tunneling that make it a potential solution for complex network environments. For organizations that require fine-grained control over VPN behavior and security, OpenVPN provides the flexibility to meet diverse requirements.
WireGuard represents a relatively recent protocol that is rapidly gaining adoption among VPN providers despite its more recent development. WireGuard takes the opposite approach to cryptography from OpenVPN, using just one set of up-to-date algorithms instead of a library of options. Algorithms used by WireGuard include ChaCha20 and Poly1305 for encryption and authentication, BLAKE2s and SipHash24 for hashing, and Curve25519 and HKDF for key agreement and derivation. Though WireGuard lacks some of the flexibility of OpenVPN, using a limited set of ciphers significantly reduces its complexity and shrinks the exploitable attack surface.
The performance comparison between the two protocols reveals that WireGuard is overall faster than OpenVPN, whether the latter is configured in TCP or UDP mode. Speed measurements comparing latency from Central Europe to increasingly distant gateways show that WireGuard consistently achieves lower latency than OpenVPN in both TCP and UDP configurations. In addition to speed advantages, WireGuard has a smaller data overhead, which is particularly beneficial to mobile users who will see smaller data usage with WireGuard. From a security and encryption perspective, both OpenVPN and WireGuard employ strong unbroken ciphers and have no known vulnerabilities. However, both VPN protocols are open-source, though WireGuard’s low codebase makes it easier to audit than OpenVPN.
The practical recommendation for choosing between these protocols depends on specific organizational needs and user circumstances. Businesses that prioritize speed and efficiency may currently be better served with WireGuard. Businesses that require a proven and highly compatible protocol should select OpenVPN. For travelers using public Wi-Fi, the key recommendation from cybersecurity experts is to employ a reputable VPN using strong protocols, with OpenVPN and WireGuard specifically recommended while avoiding free VPNs that may sell user data. No matter which protocol is selected, it is crucial to avoid free VPNs because they may track or sell user data to third parties.
Infrastructure-Level Security Solutions for Hotels and Airports
While individual travelers must implement VPN solutions to protect their own traffic, hotels and airports bear institutional responsibility for implementing robust network security infrastructure that makes their guest networks inherently more resistant to attack. Industry standards and best practices provide clear guidance on the security measures that hospitality and travel infrastructure providers should implement, yet many continue to prioritize convenience over security, leaving guests vulnerable despite their cooperation with recommended security practices.
Network segmentation through Virtual Local Area Networks represents a foundational security control that hotels should implement to protect both guest data and their own infrastructure. Hotels should segment their wireless network from their business network, with the guest Wi-Fi implemented as a separate network clearly segmented from the business network. This first step isn’t necessarily about protecting guests from hackers or malware threats but rather about protecting the hotel’s own network from guest-introduced threats. Hotels can segment their network using a series of virtual local area networks, with most enterprise-grade switches today having the ability to create multiple VLANs. Hotels should create a VLAN for all business devices that are hardwired to the network, a separate VLAN for wireless access points to communicate with each other to keep wireless AP management separated from wireless user traffic, a VLAN for the SSID that guests will connect to for Wi-Fi, and another VLAN for employee wireless access. By constructing VLANs for each group of devices or users, the ability for many malware strains to propagate is limited—if a hotel guest brought a malware-infected device or downloaded malicious code over the guest Wi-Fi, the malware would be unable to spread to the corporate network.
Encryption of guest Wi-Fi networks using modern security standards such as WPA2 and WPA3 represents an essential security measure that hotels frequently neglect. By securing guest Wi-Fi with WPA2 encryption, all Wi-Fi traffic generated by guests is encrypted and protected, making it far more difficult for attackers to capture and analyze. When Wi-Fi is encrypted, guests are required to supply a wireless key (functioning like a password) to access the guest Wi-Fi. However, hotels must also encrypt the Wi-Fi used by their business operations to maintain comprehensive security. The current state of hotel Wi-Fi security is troubling—many hotels still prioritize convenience over robust security practices, with smaller hotels often posting placards at the service desk stating the password for Wi-Fi access and changing this password infrequently.
Firewall implementation and configuration provides critical protection at the network perimeter and should be enabled and configured by all hospitality providers. Every hotel network includes some type of router device that separates the hotel network from the internet, and in most cases, this router will include a firewall to deter malicious traffic from traversing between the LAN and the Internet. In addition, access points may have internal firewalls as well, which can be configured to route guest wireless traffic straight out to the internet, completely blocking access to the other VLANs or company network. These firewalls should be actively configured to enforce security policies appropriate to each network segment.
Web filtering and content filtering represents an important additional layer of protection that hotels can implement to protect guests from malicious websites and content. Web filtering should be part of every hotel Wi-Fi implementation, as it may be the only security mechanism protecting users’ devices, particularly when users fail to use endpoint protection or enable their internal firewalls. DNS filtering services such as SafeDNS allow organizations to block malicious websites and inappropriate content. By implementing web filtering, hotels can significantly reduce their guests’ exposure to known malware distribution sites and phishing attacks.
Multi-factor authentication and advanced authentication mechanisms provide additional protection when guests must authenticate to access the network. Multi-factor authentication is a critical layer of defense in remote access security, requiring users to verify their identity through multiple methods in addition to passwords, such as biometrics or one-time codes. By combining factors, MFA reduces reliance on passwords alone, mitigating risks of phishing, credential theft, and unauthorized access. Hotels implementing captive portals for Wi-Fi access should consider requiring multi-factor authentication or at minimum secondary verification beyond email addresses for initial registration.
Multi-Layered Protection Strategies Beyond VPNs
While VPN gateways provide essential encryption of traffic, a comprehensive security strategy for public Wi-Fi in hotels and airports requires implementing multiple protective layers that address threats at different levels of the network stack and user behavior. This defense-in-depth approach recognizes that no single security measure can eliminate all risks and that layered controls provide resilience against attacks that might bypass any individual control.
Mobile hotspots using cellular data connections provide an alternative to hotel and airport Wi-Fi that offers substantially greater security. Mobile hotspots typically use WPA2 encryption, which is robust and challenging to crack, ensuring that data transmitted over the network is secure and protected from unauthorized access. With a mobile hotspot, users can control who can access the network—by setting a strong password, users can restrict access to trusted individuals, reducing the risk of malicious users connecting to the network. The likelihood of man-in-the-middle attacks is significantly reduced when using a mobile hotspot because the user controls the device and the connection. Devices connected to a mobile hotspot are isolated from other users, providing additional protection from potential threats compared to the shared environment of public Wi-Fi. When using a mobile hotspot, users avoid connecting to rogue or fake Wi-Fi networks set up by attackers to steal personal information. Data sent through a mobile hotspot is less likely to be tracked by third parties, assuming the mobile provider has robust privacy practices.
eSIM technology provides another alternative connection method for international travelers that offers security advantages compared to hotel Wi-Fi. An eSIM is a digital SIM card that provides a private, encrypted cellular data connection, completely bypassing the dangers of public networks. With providers like Yoho Mobile, users can get instant, secure data from the moment they land, with the connection traveling through trusted carrier networks just like data at home, making it exponentially safer for online banking, booking hotels, or sending sensitive work emails. The convenience is significant—on iOS devices, users can install a Yoho Mobile eSIM in under a minute directly from the app without scanning QR codes. For Android users, the standard QR code setup is equally quick, making secure connectivity available before travelers even board the plane.
HTTPS websites and SSL/TLS encryption provide application-layer protection that complements network-layer VPN security. To avoid sketchy or unprotected websites that may lead to data breaches, users can check that all websites they visit start with “https,” as HTTPS encrypts website activity. While HTTPS does not completely mask a visitor’s visit to a certain site, it hides any sensitive content entered on the site. Users can also check for the padlock in their search bar to ensure a website is secure. For those nervous about accidentally visiting a website not HTTPS protected, browser extensions like HTTPS Everywhere can be installed to only allow access to HTTPS-protected sites.
DNS over HTTPS and encrypted DNS protocols provide protection against DNS hijacking and spoofing attacks that exploit unencrypted DNS queries. DNS over HTTPS uses the HTTPS protocol to encrypt domain name system information, blending DNS requests into HTTPS queries so DNS traffic goes unobserved among other HTTPS activity. By using port 443 like HTTPS, DoH prevents eavesdropping and DNS data manipulation by man-in-the-middle attacks. When DNS queries are encrypted with DoH, hackers cannot read them even if they gain access, and communications remain private. The encryption allows theoretically allowing network administrators to view the encrypted DNS traffic in case an issue arises, with the benefit of hiding the data within the enormous amount of HTTPS requests that pass through the network.
Zero Trust Network Access and Software-Defined Perimeters represent emerging architectural approaches that fundamentally rethink how organizations should structure remote access security. ZTNA is a category of technologies providing secure remote access to applications and services based on defined access control policies that default to deny, providing only the access to services users have been explicitly granted. Unlike VPNs which grant complete access to a LAN, ZTNA solutions provide more precise access controls, granting access only to specific applications or resources rather than the entire network. ZTNA continuously verifies the identity and security posture of users and devices rather than authenticating users only at the point of connection. This approach limits exposure by providing access on a need-to-know basis, minimizing the attack surface compared to VPNs that often provide broad network access.
Endpoint security and device hardening measures protect user devices from malware infection regardless of network conditions. Before traveling, users should ensure that their computer’s operating system and software are up to date on all patches, important data is backed up, and the operating system has a current, well-vetted security or antivirus application installed and running. Users should disable auto-connect features so devices don’t automatically join networks, turn off file sharing and Bluetooth when not in use, and avoid connecting to networks other than the hotel’s official Wi-Fi network. Keeping software and antivirus current ensures that known vulnerabilities are patched and that device protection is maintained.
Limitations of Current Security Measures and Remaining Vulnerabilities
Despite widespread recommendations and deployment of VPN solutions, significant limitations remain that prevent even well-intentioned security-conscious users from achieving complete protection when using public Wi-Fi networks. Understanding these limitations is essential for realistic threat modeling and for developing more comprehensive security strategies.
VPN implementations face inherent limitations regarding availability and performance. Although VPNs are designed to support confidentiality and integrity, they generally do not improve availability—the ability for authorized users to access systems as needed. In fact, many VPN implementations actually tend to decrease availability somewhat because they add more components and services to the existing network infrastructure. This dependency means that if a VPN connection fails or performs poorly, users may experience degraded service or may be tempted to disconnect to improve performance, exposing their traffic during the disconnected period.
VPN split tunneling presents a significant security tradeoff that many organizations and users employ to improve performance at the cost of reduced security. Split tunneling allows certain traffic to bypass the VPN while other traffic routes through the encrypted tunnel, improving bandwidth efficiency for non-sensitive traffic and reducing server load. However, split tunneling introduces serious security risks—by allowing certain traffic to bypass the VPN, split tunneling can expose sensitive data to the open internet, making unencrypted traffic susceptible to interception. Any unencrypted traffic is susceptible to interception by attackers, potentially allowing them to eavesdrop on data, steal credentials, or exploit vulnerabilities. Additionally, when users bypass the VPN to access public websites or services, they may expose themselves to malware and phishing attacks. Without the protective layer of the VPN, users may inadvertently download malicious software or be tricked into revealing personal information.
Free VPN services present their own security risks that undermine the protective benefits of VPN technology. Free VPNs may keep track of or sell user data to third parties, negating the privacy benefits of encryption. Users should avoid free VPNs and instead select reputable, paid VPN services that have committed to not selling user data. This means that cost-conscious users or those who cannot justify VPN subscriptions may be tempted to use free services that actually undermine their security rather than improving it.
Captive portals and network access methods can undermine VPN security if users connect to the network before activating their VPN. Many public Wi-Fi networks require users to pass through a login or terms acceptance page before granting general internet access, and attackers can replicate these pages to capture login credentials or other personal information. Cisco’s AnyConnect client includes captive portal detection and remediation features to address this vulnerability, but many users may not employ such solutions.
DNS leaks represent a technical vulnerability where DNS queries may still be visible to network administrators or attackers even when using a VPN. While DNS over HTTPS encrypts DNS queries end-to-end, it can have unwanted impacts on network security in business environments. If DoH is not properly implemented alongside other security controls, DNS queries can bypass the VPN’s protective measures and be visible to ISPs or network administrators. This is why selecting a reputable VPN provider that implements DNS leak protection and DNS over HTTPS is essential.
The human element remains the most critical vulnerability in any security system. Even users employing VPNs may still make security mistakes such as accepting invalid SSL certificates, downloading and executing malware, or entering credentials into spoofed login pages. 57 percent of respondents reported not feeling safe using public or business Wi-Fi, and only 17 percent reported feeling safe, indicating that most people are not confident in the security of these networks even when taking precautions. This gap between awareness and protective action remains a critical failure point in public Wi-Fi security.
Emerging Technologies and Zero Trust Approaches
The limitations of traditional VPN approaches have catalyzed development of alternative architectures and emerging technologies that promise more granular, context-aware security for users accessing public networks.
Zero Trust architecture extends beyond basic VPN security by implementing continuous verification of user identity and device posture rather than implicit trust once access is granted. In zero trust models, each connection request is scrutinized dynamically to confirm it poses no risk, thereby reducing the odds of breach. Under zero trust frameworks, organizations verify users based on breadth of context, including device, location, and identity, for every access request. This approach fundamentally breaks away from the concept that “once you’re in, you’re trusted,” a concept that has long hampered traditional VPN setups. For enterprises seeking maximum protection, zero trust ensures policy enforcement at all times from any location, thereby minimizing attack surfaces.
Zero Trust Network Access operates through software-defined perimeter architecture that completely isolates application access from network access. ZTNA solutions enforce secure, identity-based access controls that help organizations replace VPNs while reducing dependence on DDoS protection, global load balancing, and firewalls. ZTNA creates a fundamental architectural difference from network-centric solutions by completely isolating app access from network access, which reduces risks such as infection by compromised devices by granting only authorized users access to specific applications. This makes network and app infrastructure invisible to unauthorized users through outbound-only connections, ensuring IPs are never exposed to the internet and making the network impossible to find. ZTNA grants authorized users app access on a one-to-one basis through native app segmentation, meaning users only have access to specific apps rather than the full network, thereby eliminating the risk of lateral movement.
VPN concentrators and hardware-based VPN solutions represent another category of emerging security infrastructure that centralizes and manages VPN connections at scale. A VPN gateway acts as the gatekeeper for remote access, managing secure connections between endpoints and corporate networks while encrypting data and enforcing security protocols. SSL VPN gateways can be single-purpose hardware systems containing the software needed to perform SSL VPN tasks, or they can be implemented as capabilities within firewall and router hardware systems. This centralized approach allows organizations to enforce consistent security policies across all remote users and to monitor and respond to threats at a network-wide level rather than depending on individual endpoint security.
Behavioral analytics and threat detection systems augment traditional security controls by identifying anomalous activity patterns that may indicate compromise. VPN services increasingly incorporate AI-powered threat detection, customizable alerts, and real-time data visualization to help security teams identify suspicious activity. These systems analyze user behavior, device health, and access patterns to detect deviations from normal patterns that might indicate account compromise or lateral movement within protected systems.
Practical Implementation Recommendations for Travelers and Organizations
The comprehensive understanding of threats, VPN technologies, and security strategies outlined above translates into specific, actionable recommendations for both individual travelers seeking to protect themselves on public Wi-Fi and organizations implementing security infrastructure for their employees and guests.
For individual travelers, the FBI and cybersecurity professionals recommend a multi-layered approach that combines VPN protection with operational discipline and device hardening. Before traveling, travelers should ensure that their computer’s operating system and software are up to date on all patches, important data is backed up, and the operating system has a current, well-vetted security or antivirus application installed and running. Travelers should verify the official network name and password with the hotel front desk before connecting to avoid rogue networks. If there are duplicate SSIDs present, travelers should not connect to either, as there is no way to verify which one is legitimate. Once connected, travelers should avoid any type of sensitive activity and should not conduct banking, confidential work, or other activities where sensitive or personal information might become exposed to eavesdroppers.
Travelers should enable a trusted VPN before conducting any sensitive activities, selecting a reputable VPN provider that implements strong protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard while avoiding free VPNs that may sell user data. Users should look for HTTPS websites and ensure SSL/TLS is in use when transmitting sensitive data. Travelers should disable automatic Wi-Fi connection so devices only manually connect to networks with permission and knowledge. Additionally, travelers should turn off file sharing, printer sharing, AirDrop, and other sharing options that can create network vulnerabilities.
For sensitive communications, travelers should consider using mobile hotspots or eSIM-based cellular connections rather than hotel Wi-Fi whenever possible. If traveling internationally, purchasing a prepaid eSIM before departure provides instant secure connectivity upon arrival without exposing devices to hotel network attacks during the initial access phase. When using hotel Wi-Fi, travelers should log out of everything after completing sensitive activities to end those sessions. Finally, travelers should forget the network after disconnecting so devices don’t automatically reconnect in the future.
Organizations deploying VPN solutions for remote workers and travelers should implement comprehensive security policies that mandate VPN usage and provide clear guidance on when VPN is required. Organizations should issue VPN credentials and train employees on when and how to use them—ideally, every time they connect to a non-corporate network. Organizations should offer mobile hotspots when possible as an alternative to hotel Wi-Fi to provide far more security and control. Organizations should conduct cybersecurity training that includes specific guidance on public Wi-Fi threats, how to spot suspicious networks, and what to avoid while traveling.
For hotels and airports implementing infrastructure security, standards and best practices provide clear direction. Hotels should implement network segmentation through VLANs that completely separate guest networks from business networks, preventing guest-introduced malware from compromising hotel systems. Hotels should only offer secure wireless with WPA2 or WPA3 encryption and should enable and properly configure firewalls to protect network segments. Hotels should implement web filtering and DNS filtering to block known malicious sites. Hotels should segment wireless networks to isolate critical devices and systems. Hotels should enforce strong authentication for administrative access and should implement multi-factor authentication for sensitive systems.
Airports should implement strong encryption of their public Wi-Fi networks to automatically encrypt connections when users join. Airports should require at least a registration or access code to connect, making it more difficult for attackers to operate malicious networks. Airports should use signage, login portals, and announcements to inform travelers about Wi-Fi safety and highlight potential pitfalls. Some airports are even incorporating cybersecurity tips into their apps to help raise awareness of common scams. Airports should employ industry collaboration and work with airlines, hotels, and other travel infrastructure providers to make cybersecurity a priority across the entire travel ecosystem.
Your Secure Wi-Fi Journey
Hotel and airport Wi-Fi networks represent a critical vulnerability in the travel experience that requires comprehensive, multi-layered security approaches combining user awareness, individual protective measures, and institutional infrastructure improvements. The threat landscape is substantial and evolving—with over 5 million public unsecured Wi-Fi networks identified globally and one-third of users connecting to them unsecured, the aggregate attack surface facing travelers is enormous. Real-world incidents including the Marriott breach affecting 500 million guests, the 2024 Otelier breach affecting over 437,000 email addresses, the MGM Resorts attack costing over $100 million, and countless smaller compromises document the concrete consequences of inadequate security in travel networks.
Secured VPN gateways employing robust encryption protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard provide essential protection that transforms potentially exposed public Wi-Fi traffic into encrypted tunnels resistant to packet sniffing, man-in-the-middle attacks, and DNS hijacking. However, VPNs alone do not constitute complete protection—they must be combined with modern protocols like DNS over HTTPS, emerging zero trust architectures that provide granular application-level access control rather than blanket network access, device hardening measures that keep systems patched and protected against malware, and behavioral changes that favor mobile hotspots or eSIMs for sensitive activities when possible.
The hospitality and travel infrastructure sectors bear institutional responsibility for implementing network segmentation, strong encryption, firewalls, and web filtering that make their guest networks inherently more resistant to attack. Yet many continue prioritizing convenience over security, leaving guests vulnerable despite their cooperation with recommended practices. The future of public Wi-Fi security depends on simultaneous progress along multiple dimensions: continued VPN technology development emphasizing ease of use and protection against emerging threats, adoption of zero trust principles that replace implicit network trust with continuous verification, infrastructure modernization by hotels and airports implementing industry best practices, and sustained security awareness among travelers who understand that their individual choices significantly affect the success of attacks.
The journey from hotel check-in through departure represents a critical moment of vulnerability where travelers’ personal and corporate data can be compromised through a combination of sophisticated attacks and inadequate security infrastructure. By understanding the specific threats, employing appropriate protective technologies centered on secured VPN gateways and complementary controls, and maintaining rigorous operational discipline, travelers and organizations can dramatically reduce their exposure to these threats and preserve the security and privacy that increasingly distant and mobile work environments require.
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