Many airports offer free wireless, or Wi-Fi, connections for the public to log onto the Internet from their personal computers. Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina warns that hackers are taking advantage of travelers this holiday season by setting up fake Wi-Fi connections designed to steal personal information. Airports across the country continue to report Wi-Fi security issues. When searching for wireless connections, consumers may see an unsecured network connection available. Unfortunately, the network may actually be a scam, and the consumer will be surfing the Internet through the hacker’s computer. While the user is online, the hacker is stealing personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers and social security numbers from the user’s computer. “As consumers travel this holiday season, they need to use caution when connecting to a free Wi-Fi network.” said Beverly Baskin, president and CEO of BBB serving Eastern North Carolina. “Hackers have set up Wi-Fi connections in many locations, but airports are a favorite “hot spot.” BBB offers the following advice for travelers using Wi-Fi this holiday season: Connect Securely. Use caution when connecting to an unfamiliar wireless network. Even if the name sounds legitimate, it could be a scam. Disable Automatic Connections. Make sure that your computer is not set up to automatically connect to wireless networks within your range. Otherwise, your computer could automatically connect to a hacker’s network. Create a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN establishes a private network across the public network which prevents hackers from intercepting your data. For additional information on scams during the holidays, visit easternnc.bbb.org.