Sharing too much information about your vacation online, particularly through “airport selfies” featuring boarding passes and passports, can pose serious risks of hacking and identity theft. A recent survey revealed that 85% of American travelers are concerned about being hacked while traveling. Cybersecurity experts from NordVPN warn that even a barcode visible on a boarding pass can provide hackers with enough information to access a traveler’s full name, reservation number, passenger name record, and sometimes contact information.

Hackers can exploit this data to ruin a vacation by canceling return flights, stealing money from payment cards, or even committing identity theft. They might target airline accounts to steal mileage points or deceive travelers into providing credit card details under the guise of airline representatives. Cybercriminals may also use information found on social media to impersonate travelers, tricking secure travel agencies or airlines into disclosing customer information.

To safeguard against these risks, NordVPN suggests:

• Do not post boarding passes or personal information online
• Refrain from sharing vacation photos until after returning home to avoid broadcasting an empty house.
• Ensure social media account settings are set to private
• Limit posts to friends only
• Avoid disclosing personal details like home address and phone number
• Never share photos of passports or other sensitive documents
• Be cautious when using free public Wi-Fi, as it may be easily monitored by hackers
• Using a VPN is recommended for secure internet browsing

NordVPN is a leading VPN service provider, known for its advanced encryption, privacy protection, and threat blocking features. It emphasizes the importance of staying secure online while sharing vacation memories responsibly with followers.

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