A new global survey conducted by the NordvPN cybersecurity company reveals that travelers around the world are aware of the possible threats of cybersecurity while traveling, but continue to run risks with their devices. The research emphasizes that 75% of American travelers and 73% of Canadian travelers use their smartphones during their daily trips and 61% of worldwide travelers connect to the Internet while traveling.
Despite 54% of travelers who use their smartphones to listen to music or podcasts, 50% to make calls and send messages, and 45% to move through social networks, many still do not consider the safety risks that accompany being online in public spaces. A growing concern is the “shoulder surf”, where others can easily see what is on the screen of a traveler in crowded public places.
“The travel time has become the screen time. Either listening to podcasts, catch up with the messages or move through social networks, people remain connected to the Internet even in transit. But few stop to think about the safety risks that lead to being online in constantly changing environments,” he says Adrianus Warmenhoven, an expert in cybersecurity in Nordvpn.
How travelers use devices during their trips
The global study revealed that 8 out of 10 travelers worldwide use a mobile device during their trips, being smartphones the most popular option.
Many travelers (54%) listen to music or podcasts, 50% calls and messages to people, and 45% displace social networks. A third of travelers see videos, movies and programs, while 27% play and 24% perform work -related tasks during their trips.
In terms of Internet connectivity, 60% of worldwide travelers connect during their trip, with South Korea leading 80%, followed by countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany, where 68% of travelers connect to the Internet. Despite generalized connectivity, the public Wi-Fi remains a common and risky option for travelers, with 60% of worldwide travelers who use public Wi-Fi to access the Internet.
“It is more likely that today’s travelers are attached to their smartphones or connected to the Internet. However, this also opens the door to the possible risks of cybersecurity. The same survey revealed that 69% of the population is concerned about possible cyber threats during their trips,” says Adrianus Warmenhoven.
Wi-Fi and cybersecurity public threats
The survey also highlighted how the public Wi-Fi represents an important threat of cybersecurity. In many regions, travelers seem to be willing to run the risk of using unusual networks, exposing their data to possible computer pirates. For example, 79% of travelers in South Korea and 68% in the United Kingdom use public Wi-Fi, compared to only 35% of Swedes. The lack of encryption in many public Wi-Fi networks makes these connections very vulnerable to cyber attacks.
However, most travelers said they take at least one measure to protect their data while traveling, such as using safe passwords (47%), keeping updated software (46%) and avoiding giving confidential information (37%). However, a reunition of 18% of worldwide travelers reported that they did not take measures to protect their data while using their devices on the fly.
Shoulder surf and distractions
Another security threat identified in the survey is the shoulder surf, the practice that someone looks over another person’s shoulder to see what is on their screen. Almost a quarter of global travelers have witnessed. Spain has the highest rate, at 34%, while Sweden has the lowest, 7%.
“Most people think that cyber threats as something happens online, but sometimes, the risk is just at their side. Surf of shoulders can expose confidential information without realizing it.
Distractions of the use of the device also impact travelers’ safety. Worldwide, 21% of travelers admitted having lost their stop due to device distractions. The highest rate was observed in South Korea, where 32% of travelers reported that their stop was missing while distracted by their devices.
Tales for safer travel
Despite the growing risks, 74% of Americans and 71% of Canadians expressed concern about possible cyber threats during their trips, with travelers in countries such as Spain and Italy who show a high level of concern as well. However, in countries like Sweden, travelers are generally less concerned, with 7 out of 10 people not worried or just a little concerned about cyber threats.
“After all, public connections are a recreational courtyard. Avoid accessing confidential accounts in these networks, always enable two factors and maintains their updated devices to keep one step ahead of cyber threats,” says Warminhoven.
To protect your data and privacy, you also recommend taking into account personal cyber security councils: “Regular updates, safe passwords and VPN are their first line of defense. Block your devices and deactivate the automatic connection to ensure that it is not exposed without knowing it to cyber threats.”
Methodology: The survey was commissioned by NordvPN and carried out by the external companies Cint and Northat from February 20 to March 2, 2025. The objective group of the survey consisted of residents of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, South Korea and Japan from 18 to 74 years (national representative) with an exception in Korea (18-64).
The sample was taken from national Internet users. The quotas were placed in age, gender and place of residence. In total, 10,800 people were surveyed: 800 people from Spain and 1,000 people from each of the remaining countries.
For more information and infographics of the study, visit: https://nordvpn.com/blog/commute-smartphone-safety-research-us-ca-2025
