![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/cyber-safe.jpg?resize=300%2C193&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nRabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za<\/p>\n
09 May 2026<\/p>\n
5-minute read<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While most of the departing hujjaj take safety as a consideration when packing and locking their bags, few people think about \u201cbeing cyber-safe while travelling\u201d for hajj.<\/p>\n
According to Irfaan Salejie, with the changing landscape, many individuals nowadays are a lot more vulnerable as cyber criminals are everywhere and tourists are \u201cviewed as easy targets\u201d. Tourists are less cautious when travelling and tend to rely on unfamiliar networks that don\u2019t have the right security systems, and device apps and payment systems, thus compromising their cell phones or laptops. When travelling, often people are rushed or stressed and don\u2019t heed security warnings, thus revealing personal details like travel information and documents, as well as banking details. Irfaan notes that \u201cin the 21st<\/sup> century, information is currency,\u201d and cyber criminals make money and plan their pay cheque off intercepting and sharing individual\u2019s personal information.<\/p>\n Common cyber threats include fake Wi-Fi networks, malicious charging station, stolen devices and compromised travel applications. Irfaan warns against using public or open networks for anyone doing data transfers like banking, as this information is being \u201ctracked and traced\u201d and can be used at any time.<\/p>\n He shared the following tips and checks for staying cyber-safe while travelling:<\/p>\n Irfaan says that it is \u201chighly recommended\u201d for avid travellers to have a travelling VPN that adds an extra layer of protection when using open networks, making it harder for strangers to intercept personal information. Certain countries have laws regarding certain sites, and a VPN will allow a user to access inaccessible sites while protecting him from being flagged. A country like Saudi especially, with their very advanced cyber-monitoring systems, can detect \u201cwhen, where and what you\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n Public charging ports are also unsafe to use when travelling. Cyber criminals do something called \u201cjuice-jacking\u201d where they use public charging ports at places like airports and train stations to connect malware that can steal all the information from your phone while it is connected to charge. If any suspicious notifications asking for permission to access information pop up on your device while it is on a public charger, decline them immediately. However, juice-jacking can also happen silently, where you may notice your screen jumping or acting frisky and instead of figuring out that you\u2019re being hacked, you may put it down to your phone acting up because it is old or outdated. Getting rid of malware from your phone is a near impossible task, and even if you manage to restore to factory settings, your information may not back up.<\/p>\n Travellers are also \u201cextremely susceptible to cloning,\u201d says Irfaan. Cloning of sim cards, information, and even identities can happen anywhere. When you connect to WiFi points or use public charging stations, you are putting yourself at risk by giving strangers access to everything about you, like personal information and bank payments.\u00a0 Credit cards, even virtual ones, can be cloned. According to Irfaan, your virtual card is the best option when making payments because the CVV changes every few days. Biometrics like facial recognition and fingerprints do make it safer, but Irfaan says that they should be combined with double-layer protection like passwords or anything with a double-fail safe, because face cloning can be done via AI.<\/p>\n A digital traveller\u2019s guide for the hujjaj:<\/p>\n\n