Why you should think twice before posting selfies at the airport: many people don't know this
Going on a trip, many tourists can't wait to brag about their vacation on social networks. This is quite common. However, there are often pictures from the airport, where people show their passport and boarding pass. The consequences of such a seemingly harmless act can be very serious.
Ordinary selfies can be the cause of leakage of your personal data. You end up risking all sorts of cybersecurity issues as well as fraud. Travel+Leisure spoke to experts who explained why you should think twice before posting a photo at the airport.
Each boarding pass contains your full legal name, ticket number and Passenger Name Record (PNR), a six-digit alphanumeric code unique to your reservation. This may not seem like a lot of information, but it's enough for those who want more details.
Amir Sachs, founder and CEO of cybersecurity company Blue Light IT, said, "By using your PNR and your last name, a hacker can gain full access to your booking information, phone number, email address and emergency contact details."
All of this data allows the scammer to steal your identity.
Selfies with your ticket and passport at the airport allow scammers to steal your identity
"A frequent flyer's number, first name, last name and PNR are valuable for identity theft, making fraudulent activities such as opening credit card accounts or making unauthorized purchases easier" commented Josh Amishav, founder and CEO of Breachsense data leak monitoring company.
Hackers can use social engineering techniques, posing as airline representatives to trick you into giving more personal information. They can also create targeted phishing attacks using your boarding pass information, leading you to click on malicious links or share sensitive data.
It's worth thinking about what personal data you might publish before you brag about your upcoming trip.
Earlier OBOZREVATEL shared eight mistakes of tourists while traveling by plane. They were revealed by experienced flight attendants who often encounter such behavior of passengers on board.
Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
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