Using Wi-Fi in Airbnb rentals poses security threat, researchers say

Threat posed by short-term rentals has always been high, but security researcher says it should now be considered one of the biggest risks of traveling

Airbnb and other home-sharing startups may be eating the hotel industry from the inside out, but as the number of people staying in strangers' houses rises, so too does the security threat the whole industry poses.

When it comes to connecting to unknown networks, the typical Airbnb home network is likely to be less secure than a coffee shop Wi-Fi, hotel internet or even the extensive university network, according to security researcher Jeremy Galloway.