Security Concerns Rise as Cybercriminals Target Canadian Consumers’ Travel Booking Habits
Hikvision Tips to Protect Yourself Online
Cybercriminals are using consumers’ travel booking habits to attempt cyberattacks, creating greater security concerns according to the Canadian Security magazine article, “Cybercriminals target Canadians planning summer vacations.”
From the article: “Cybersecurity software firm McAfee says cybercriminals are capitalizing on consumers’ risky travel booking habits. The findings of a survey show that popular beach destinations around the world and cities in the United States generate the riskiest search results when people are hunting for vacation deals online.” It added that bargain hunters have greater concerns of security risk, “with nearly a third of vacation scam victims (33 percent) being defrauded after spotting a deal that was too good to be true.”
Other findings included:
- 30 percent of travel-booking cyberattack victims lost between CAD $1,000-$3,000.
- 78 percent of survey respondents were concerned about having their identity stolen during the online booking process.
- 47 percent admitted to connecting to an unsecured network while travelling, despite security concerns.
The study suggested that checking the authenticity of a website before booking online could reduce fraud risk. Read more about the research here.
For tips to protect yourself online, read this Hikvision blog, which provides insights for system and website browser security, as well as passwords and online accounts.