It’s no longer just business networks and personal gadgets at home that need to worry about cybersecurity. As time goes on, airports look more and more like computer hubs. Some common mistakes people make at airports that could put their personal information at risk of being stolen have been warned about by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Thieves are taking advantage of digital holes in places visitors don’t expect them, like USB charging stations and open Wi-Fi that has been hacked.
Hackers can sneak into public Wi-Fi networks
A number of airports give free Wi-Fi to make things easier for traveling people. The TSA says that public Wi-Fi is still one of the most dangerous ways for hackers to get in. Thieves can get private data like credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and even login information if links are not safe.
There are a lot of fake hotspots in airports, which makes the Wi-Fi there very dangerous. Bad guys can make fake networks that sound real, which makes people want to join. When people check on, they give hackers access to their private information without understanding it.
Mobile data plans for travelers are safer than public Wi-Fi. If you use your cell phone’s data plan instead, you are much less likely to be a victim of theft.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) hides your IP address and encrypts all of your internet data. This keeps people from seeing what you do online.
Accessing the internet privately and securely is possible with a portable Wi-Fi router or by connecting your phone to a Wi-Fi network.
“Juice Jacking” is a risk that comes with USB charging stations
A lot of the time, being easy costs money. An interesting fact about airport charging stations is that hackers can use them to steal data. This is known as “juice jacking.” Bad people can use this method to put software on devices that are plugged into public USB ports or steal data from them.
Safe Way to Charge: Plug your phone into a wall outlet Normal wall plugs can only send power; they can’t send data.
Pack a power bank. With portable chargers, you can use any charges that are available.
They are small adapters that stop data from going from one device to another. They make sure that your device only gets power.
Airports are also affected by cybersecurity threats
Cyber threats don’t just happen to travelers. More and more, cybercriminal groups are going after airports, which is dangerous for both operations and passengers.
Recently, there were problems at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport because of a hack. More than a thousand people were stuck. In June 2025, the FBI also said that groups of organized hackers were coming up with new ways to get around airport security. It was put at risk by these breaches:
Information about the passengers and workers that is private
Flight times and facts about operations
Rules for sensitive security
When attacks like these happen, both people and airports are at risk. Systemic threats to airports could shut them down on a large scale.
The safest ways to travel online
Travelers can greatly lower their risk by doing a few easy things:
When doing business, don’t use public Wi-Fi. It is not safe to use public Wi-Fi to access your bank, email, or shopping sites.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) will keep your accounts safe even if someone steals your login information.
Do not let your tools be out of date. Security updates solve problems that have already been found.
Devices won’t join bad networks by mistake if you turn off automatic connections.
Adding extra layers of security while traveling with VPNs, data blocks, and password managers is a good idea.
Finally
As air travel gets more linked, digital security is just as important as physical security. The most recent warnings from the TSA are a good reminder that hackers target people who are too easy to get to. Cyber threats are getting smarter, so travelers should stay away from public USB ports, Wi-Fi networks that aren’t locked down, and other places they can connect to the internet.
Airports are useful for getting to other places, but hackers love to work there. Still, being aware, careful, and having the right tools is the best protection.