Summer means holidays, but also more chances for trouble. While you may dream of relaxing, hackers and thieves don’t take a break. Cybercrime can catch you when you connect to Wi-Fi abroad, upload photos, or even charge your phone at a public Airport kiosk.
Public charging can expose your data
In fact, the FBI in 2023 reminded travellers not to use public USB charging stations, and in June 2025 the TSA repeated the same advice. And although no widespread confirmed cases of “juice jacking” have ever been documented, the risk is serious enough that authorities continue to issue warnings.
Was Your Flight Disrupted? Turn your delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight into a compensation up to €600!
When Social Media Likes Cost More Than Expected
Our trips today are as digital as they are physical. Boarding passes, flight tickets, hotel bookings – all online. And many travellers still post their boarding passes on social media.
That’s a mistake. A boarding pass photo can expose your booking code, name and travel details to criminals. “It’s smarter to share your selfies when you’re home,” says Jevgenic Tichonov, an IT engineering PhD and the lead of the IT department at the State Data Protection Inspectorate. Posting in real time also signals burglars that your house is empty. If you really must share, at least check your privacy settings first.
Was Your Flight Disrupted? Turn your delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight into a compensation up to €600!
Juice Jacking and a New Trick Called ChoiceJacking
Public charging points in Airline terminals, bus stations, or trains can be risky. Plugging into a USB port can allow criminals to copy your data or install malware – this is called juice jacking.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office even issued an alert back in 2019, warning travellers about this risk at airports. Local outlets such as FOX and NBC LA reported the warning. No actual mass cases have been proven, but the threat remains plausible.
More recently, researchers have raised concerns about choicejacking, a trick where hackers manipulate what you see on-screen, so you click “yes” when you meant “no,” accidentally approving payments or sharing access.
Travellers face both digital and flight risks
Hotel Wi-Fi and Hidden Data Traps
It’s not just charging stations. Wi-Fi in hotels and public places remains one of the biggest risks. Fake “hotel” networks can look almost identical to the real ones, tricking you into connecting and then stealing your data.
Even official hotel networks aren’t always safe. The expert advises using mobile data or a personal hotspot instead. Some hotels also ask for unnecessary ID copies, which may even break local laws. Always ask why they need your passport details before handing them over.
How to Stay Safe While Travelling
You don’t have to worry too much, but a few simple habits help:
- Carry your own charger and avoid public USB points.
- Lock your phone with a PIN, password, or fingerprint.
- Keep your software up to date.
- Turn off auto-connect, Bluetooth, and file sharing.
- Skip online banking on public Wi-Fi.
- If you think your device was compromised, reset it.
And remember: while you can protect your phone from hackers, you can’t avoid all travel risks. Flights still get delayed, cancelled, or overbooked.
Was Your Flight Disrupted? Turn your delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight into a compensation up to €600!
Beyond Cybercrime: Flights Still Get Disrupted
Travellers in 2025 face more than just digital risks. Strikes, lost luggage, bad weather and closed skies still spoil trips. If your trip is affected, you don’t have to accept the loss – you have the right to claim compensation of up to €600 under EU law. This includes Delayed Flight Compensation for long waits on the tarmac and Cancelled Flight Compensation when airlines cancel your plans at short notice.
Cases where passengers are turned away from a flight, face unavailable seats, or lose a connection because of scheduling changes can still be covered by EU air travel rules. Under these regulations, Overbooked Flight Compensation, Denied Boarding Compensation, and Missed Connection Compensation may apply.
So while you avoid scams on your phone, don’t forget your flight rights. You can get compensation if disrupted, and if it has already happened, claim now to recover what’s yours.
