{"id":95717,"date":"2019-06-25T15:44:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-25T22:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/?p=95717"},"modified":"2025-05-22T22:17:52","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T05:17:52","slug":"catch-a-ride-wearable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/mobile-security\/catch-a-ride-wearable\/","title":{"rendered":"Catch a Ride Via Wearable"},"content":{"rendered":"

More often than not, commuters and travelers alike want to get to their destination quickly and easily. The advent of wearable payments helps make this a reality, as passengers don\u2019t have to pull out a wallet or phone to pay for entry. Adding to that, users are quickly adopting wearable technology that has this payment technology embedded, causing transportation systems to take notice and adopt corresponding technology as a result. Unfortunately, there\u2019s a chance this rapid adoption may catch the eye of cybercriminals as well.<\/p>\n

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Just last month, the New York City Subway<\/a> system introduced turnstiles that open with a simple wave of a wearable, like an Apple Watch or Fitbit. Wearables may provide convenience and ease, but they also provide an open door to cybercriminals. With more connections to secure, there are more vectors for vulnerabilities and potential cyberthreats. This is especially the case with wearables, which often don\u2019t have security built-in<\/a> from the start.<\/p>\n

App developers and manufacturers are hard-pressed to keep up with innovation, so security isn\u2019t always top of mind, which puts user data at risk. As one of the most valuable things cybercriminals can get ahold of, the data stored on wearables can be used for a variety of purposes. These threats include phishing, gaining access to online accounts, or transferring money illegally. While the possibility of these threats looms, the adoption of wearables shows no sign of slowing down, with an estimated 1.1 billion in use by 2022. This means developers, manufacturers, and users need to work together in order to keep these handy gadgets secure and cybercriminals out.<\/p>\n

Tips to Improve Your Security While Traveling<\/h2>\n

Both consumers and transport systems need to be cautious of how wearables can be used to help, or hinder, us in the near future. Rest assured, even if cybercriminals utilize this technology, McAfee\u2019s security strategy will continue to keep pace with the ever-changing threat landscape. In the meantime, consider these tips to stay secure while traveling to your destination:<\/p>\n