If you’ve just been on a long journey, finally checking into your hotel is always a relief. Whether it’s a business trip or you’re taking some time off, there is something immensely comforting about the clean sheets and soft lighting that hotels offer. And of course, the promise of free Wi-Fi.
One of the first things that most people will do is connect to the Internet to check emails and social media updates, or to Google what to do or see in the area. It’s a routine that has become second nature but have you ever stopped to wonder if the hotel can see what you’re doing online?
It’s certainly an unsettling thought since you don’t manage the network. And you’re sharing the connection with a bunch of other guests. So what really goes on when you press that login button?
How Does Hotel Wi-Fi Work?
Hotel Wi-Fi works a bit differently to the residential broadband that you may be used to at home. It’s a shared network, either managed by the hotel or an external service provider. Regardless of what device you use, it’s all run through the same network and the other guests use it too.
These networks often have limited encryption compared to your home broadband. This means that the service provider or the hotel’s IT team can monitor your data for the purpose of troubleshooting issues.
Before you panic, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are intentionally spying on you. However, your online activity could leave behind bits and pieces, like digital breadcrumbs, giving clues into what you were doing online.
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What Can Your Hotel See?
If you were to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which hides your IP address and keeps your browsing activity private, it wouldn’t be so obvious as to what you were doing online. Using a HTTPS website also helps with security and privacy.
But if you weren’t using those, this is what your hotel could see – in theory.
The Websites You Visit
When you visit a website, your device has to ask the network to be routed to those servers. As a result, hotels are usually able to see which websites you visit based on their domain name, like Facebook or Netflix.
But they can’t see what you actually do once you are on those websites like what you post or what videos you watch.
The Amount Of Data You Use
Hotels have to keep an eye on the bandwidth to make sure that one guest isn’t using all of it and leaving very little for the other guests. If you wanted to stream a movie in 4K, your data usage will be visible to them but again, not the exact content that you were watching.
Any Apps Used
As with the websites, hotels can see which apps are connected to the Internet at any given time. This is because every app has to communicate through a specific server or IP address.
They may see you on Apple Music but won’t be able to actually tell which songs you’re listening to.
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What Are The Things A Hotel Can’t See?
In short, hotels can’t see your browsing history in the way that you see it on your device. They can’t see what you have Googled or which messages you have sent.
Additionally, they can’t see confidential information like your online banking credentials or passwords. This is because most of the major platforms nowadays use strong encryptions.
Should You Use A VPN At A Hotel?
While the hotel itself can’t see what you’re up to online, it doesn’t mean that your data can’t be intercepted by other third parties. You could be particularly vulnerable if the hotel’s network isn’t secured well enough which is where VPNs come in.
A VPN encrypts your traffic as soon as it leaves your device, almost like trapping it in a tunnel that can’t be penetrated. This means that no one, not even the hotel’s IT team, can track your data.
It is highly beneficial to use one when visiting a hotel because it can protect you from data theft.
How Else Can You Stay Private When Using Hotel Wi-Fi?
If you travel quite often and want to secure your privacy when staying at hotels, there are a couple of other ways in which you can stay safe.
Only connect to HTTPS websites: These websites encrypt your connection, similarly to a VPN. You’ll know a website is HTTPS because it will have a padlock icon in the browser’s address bar.
Forget the network after your visit: When you do this, your device won’t automatically reconnect the next time you visit or are in close proximity to the hotel.
Turn off Bluetooth and AirDrop: If these are on, they make you visible to other guests using the same network.
Always use a VPN: This is one of the best ways to stay safe online when using an unfamiliar network. Remember to turn it on before you connect to the hotel’s Wi-Fi.
