How important is a well-functioning Internet in a hotel?

The needs of hotel guests have changed somewhat in recent years. Nowadays, not only comfortable beds, friendly surroundings, tasty meals and an interesting view from the window are important anymore. Many guests expect good quality wireless Internet in the hotel due to work and the desire to keep in touch online with friends.

The role of new technologies in personal and professional life is increasing, the workplace is no longer just an office. Increasingly, we are working on the go on business or private equipment. Some of us do it quite remotely, especially if we are freelancers or business owners. Besides, sometimes we just want to add photos from some trip on a social network. In such situations, a good WIFI connection is often expected in hotels.

WIFI in the hotel: what does it look like?

If you are in a hotel of international standard, it is most likely equipped with an extensive IT system. In such a situation, access to the networkis located throughout the entire facility and functions seamlessly. In addition, these types of systems have greater security. Hotels and guesthouses of a slightly more intimate, ordinary standard do not spend as much on WIFI. In such cases, the Internet is provided to guests free of charge or limited by vouchers. The vouchers are included in the price of the accommodation or are available for an additional fee, it depends on the hotel’s policy. To run the Internet in a regular hotel, no additional expensive equipment is needed. Owners often offer Internet with an Internet connection and a WIFI router. They use subscriptions offered by Internet providers. This allows them to see how much Internet has been used, as well as track the status of the device and know who is using it. In this way, owners keep their finger on the pulse in terms of Internet security at the hotel.

Online security in hotels: what to look out for?

As customers of a particular hotel, however, it is worthwhile to take care of the security of your travel data yourself. Why? We can never be sure if the WIFI has sufficient security. If we don’t have to enter a password when we log on to the network, then the Internet is definitely not secure. Network security standards:

• WEP(Wired Equivalent Privacy) – is a 1999 network security standard, based on the use of 64-bit and 128-bit keys. Abolished as a security standard because it contained numerous vulnerabilities.
• WPA(Wi-Fi Protected Access) encryption. Officially adopted in 2004, the most common WPA configuration is WPA-PSK (Pre-Shared Key). The keys used by WPA are 256-bit, an advance over WEP. WPA uses a single key system rather than a fixed key like WEP.
• WPA2(Wi-Fi Protected Access II) – offers the most effective encryption using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm. WPA2 is a wireless security protocol that uses AES encryption. AES uses dynamic 128-bit cryptographic keys. This standard has made fixes for all vulnerabilities in previous protocols. Experts have been recommending the use of WPA2 since around 2010 to maintain the highest security.

Rules for using the hotel’s WIFI

1. Don’t enter sensitive data on the hotel’s network login page unless you use a VPN.
2. Ask at the front desk beforehand if there is a requirement to update or install software when you want to use the service. There have been cases of confidential data being intercepted at such times.
3. Before you close the browser window, log out of all the services you use.
4. Clear your browsing history and temporary Internet files from a foreign computer, tablet or smartphone. If you don’t, there is a risk that someone will log in using your data.
5. Do not leave your devices unsecured in a public place.

VPN and fiber Internet at ITH.EU

A VPN is special software that encrypts network traffic and blocks interception of transmitted information such as passwords or credit card data. We are a provider of telecommunications services for startups, large and small businesses and public institutions. Our offerings include fiber Internet, network protection, VOIP, VPN, hosting, cloud computing and telephony. Feel free to contact us.