If you are planning a trip – whether it be to a nearby city or to places faraway – it’s important to understand how security and safety can affect your travels. Many remember to protect their finances and other physical items when travelling, but what about mobile phones? Today, we’ll outline the best and worst tourist attractions in terms of where your mobile phone is most likely to be compromised.
WORST ATTRACTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES
Nearly two-thirds of the world’s most dangerous hotspots for mobile phone vulnerability are in the United States of America, so be cautious when there!
Times Square in New York City is above and beyond the most vulnerable spot in the US – and the entire world – for mobile phone vulnerabilities and thefts. It is here that your mobile device is most likely to inadvertently connect to or be connected to by a malicious hotspot or wireless network.
The primary reason why targets in the United States are so numerous is due to its position in the world economically-speaking, the sheer number of financial hubs that exist and the overall number of people living there. This makes is a ripe target for hackers and thieves, most of whom wish to obtain personal and financial information in order to profit from it.
Other vulnerable areas for tourists and travellers in the United States include Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, Union Station in Washington D.C. And Disneyland Park in Anaheim, CA.
These areas all play host to millions of tourists and residents passing through on an annual basis. Whether they be a train station, an amusement park or a general tourist pass-through of some other type, the sheer number of wireless connections available in these areas combined with the transient nature of people passing through make them prime targets for would-be hackers and thieves to quickly pick up information from thousands of people without them ever knowing any better.
WORST ATTRACTIONS IN FRANCE
While the United States overwhelmingly dominates the top 15 worst attractions for mobile theft and vulnerabilities, France takes the #2 and #3 spots on the list, only behind Times Square.
The Notre Dame Cathedral, of all places, is the second most dangerous venue for mobile phone vulnerabilities in the entire world, according to Skycure’s comprehensive assessment. With millions upon millions flocking here every year for photos and visits, it is an irresistible hot-bed of activity for those who want to make off with travellers’ personal and financial information.
Disneyland Park is the third most risky venue, for obvious reasons. With so many different wireless networks in the park – utilised by the venue and planted by would-be attackers – there are vulnerabilities galore that can be exploited by mobile devices that automatically connect to them.
As such, please use discretion when travelling to either of these French locales.
BEST ATTRACTIONS IN TERMS OF SECURITY
Which heavily-frequented places around the world have the best built-in mobile security, and which places are you least likely to face a mobile attack while visiting? Most of them can be found in the Eastern Hemisphere.
The Taj Mahal in Agra, India ranks as the safest place out of all of the most visited world attractions for mobile security. The fact that many people visit here without their mobile devices and the reality that wireless connections are minimised here means that there are fewer opportunities for would-be hackers to attack your phone.
Universal Studios Japan and the Great Wall of China are two other relatively safe-spots on our list. The former employs a variety of security protocols within its own networks to ensure that mobile devices are kept as safe as possible, while the Great Wall itself enjoys protection largely due to the fact that there is minimal wireless network presence along its perimeter.
Rounding out the top five on our list of safest tourist attractions is the Sydney Opera House in Australia and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. The vast expanse of the Smoky Mountains ensures that tourists and visitors are largely spread out from one another while engaging in all the park has to offer, while the Sydney Opera House – for obvious reasons – discourages mobile phone use in part by limiting wireless connectivity through the premises.
PROTECT YOURSELF
When travelling in highly-trafficked areas, common sense is the best protection. On any mobile device, disabling the auto-connect feature for wireless networks can go a long way toward minimising any risk of financial or personal theft. Completely disabling the wireless connectivity altogether may prove to be more effective, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and even NFC capabilities. Affordable mobile shielding pouches and cases also exist to help block any outside interference from accessing your phone. By taking these steps, you can easily thwart would-be thieves and peeping eyes whenever travelling through busy and oft-frequented areas.
