Use WiFi in the hotel - you have to consider that

This practical tip tells you what you need to consider when using WiFi in the hotel.

Use WiFi safely in the hotel

Especially on vacation, it is worthwhile to access the hotel's WLAN service instead of consuming your own mobile data flat and risking high roaming costs. But before you read your emails or send a greeting via a social network, you should definitely check the WiFi network of your vacation home for security. We have summarized the most basic protective measures for WLAN service in the hotel here:

• Before you go online in the foreign WiFi network, you should have an up-to-date and powerful anti-virus program on your PC, tablet or smartphone. Here you will find 24 antivirus programs put to the test. A well-functioning antivirus software is the basic requirement for the highest possible protection. A good firewall is also a must.
• Before entering the WiFi security key, check that you are really connecting to the correct WiFi network. With this farsightedness you prevent falling into a "network clone" and thus becoming the victim of an insidious hacker trick. In return, disconnect the connection as soon as you no longer have access to the WiFi network.
• Avoid transactions via online banking and do not make any online purchases via the hotel WiFi so that no personal data can be stolen from you. In addition, do not carry out any downloads, as otherwise, for example, aggressive viruses can cause considerable damage due to the data release.
• Change your passwords and passwords regularly and avoid identity theft.

Use fast WiFi in the hotel

Once spread out in the hotel room, you want to connect to the social world as quickly as possible, share vacation pictures or check the latest news. A bad WLAN connection quickly puts a spanner in the works. You can take the following measures to ensure that there is no problem with the WiFi in your room:

• Before booking a hotel, make sure that it can provide enough WiFi capacity for your needs. To do this, first find out on the hotel's own websites and booking platforms whether the hotel is even equipped with a WLAN connection. Since that doesn't say anything about the quality of the connection, be sure to check out recessions from other hotel guests on travel platforms like TripAdvisor.
• Another way to find out about WLAN hotspots and their strength is to use WLAN cards. For Android and iOS you can download the "WiFi Map" or "WeFi" apps for free. They mark almost all WiFi hotspots worldwide on an interactive map and sometimes also show the password.
• If you really want to be on the safe side, you have to take matters into your own hands. Pack yourself a so-called mobile "Travel Router". These devices are available from around 35 euros. Connect the router to the room's Ethernet cable and enjoy a fast and secure internet connection. You can achieve the same effect with a WiFi amplifier you have brought with you.

Here you will find further useful tips on how to surf the WLAN hotspots safely.