In-flight internet poses hacking dangers.

• Position: Airline Wi-Fi

The dangers of public Wi-Fi already are well known, but the security issues of In-flight Internet connection remain somewhat obscure. There are more than 50 airlines offering In-flight Internet, and the prevalence of U.S. in-flight Wi-Fi alone has grown 1,600-fold since 2013.

There is no password protection on the W-R connection, so anyone can Intercept all data that is being transmitted on the wireless network. Airplanes are unique hacking grounds--more dangerous than airports or coffee shops, as they cram passengers in one small space for hours. This gives hackers plenty of time and opportunity to access all data that Is being transmitted over open networks. Passengers who do online banking, shopping, or business emailing are especially vulnerable to identity and data theft, cautions NordVPN.

Hacking devices, such as Wi-Fi Pineapple, are accessible to anyone and are particularly dangerous on flights. The Pineapple, which is small enough to be stored In someone's carry-on, pretends to be a WiFi connection; so, when a user connects to Wi-Fi, that individual actually is connecting to a hacking device.

How can airplane passengers protect their data and securely connect to the Internet? First, a traveler gets to designate the Wi-Fi network as Home, Work, or...