SASKATOON – You’ve probably seen it before, the social media post capturing a friend’s excitement about jetting off on a vacation. A picture of their boarding pass, passport cover and details about when they’ll be away.
“News reports suggest people were able to get into frequent flyer accounts and similar things,” said Eric Neufeld, computer science department head at University of Saskatchewan.
“That may not seem that dangerous, but it may change from one vendor what information is stored in the boarding passes barcode.”
READ MORE: Toronto airport staff document lost teddy bear’s trek home
Even if you don’t show text, the barcode can fill in the blanks and with smartphones, getting the information is easier than ever.
“One thing that’s changed is that once upon a time, the only people who could understand barcodes were those with barcode scanners. This just wasn’t everyday ‘Joes.’ Now you can use your phone to decode what happens to be in a barcode. It turns out there is potentially sensitive information,” said Neufeld.
This doesn’t apply to all airlines. Air Canada and WestJet have said their barcode information doesn’t give away anything that isn’t already on boarding passes.
International airlines are different so be cognizant of what is posted.
READ MORE: Air Canada, WestJet increase Saskatoon flights
“We checked our own boarding passes and the only information that it gave us in fact was the same thing that you see in the text. Your first and last name, flight number and the date,” said Robert Palmer, WestJet public relations manager.
Still, people are advised to consider a boarding pass a receipt of an expensive purchase. Guard the information and shred it once you land.
No matter how excited you are for your next trip, make sure the next time you brag, it’s in person.
After all, a hacker only needs a reservation code and last name on most airline websites to manage bookings.
Comments