Sun, Sea & Cyber Safety: O2 advises customers on staying safe online whilst abroad this half term

• Research* by O2 shows having no mobile data or access to WiFi while on holiday negatively impacts the trip according to over two-thirds (68%) of millennials.
• The survey of 2,000 UK adults also reveals that Gen Z would prioritise taking their mobile phone (38%) to the beach over a hat (18%) or a book (12%).
• O2 data suggests nearly one million Brits escaped the UK for some autumn sun this time last year.
• Gareth Lister, Director of Connectivity at Virgin Media O2, provides top tips on staying safe online while abroad this half term.
• O2 is the only major UK network to offer inclusive EU roaming (up to 25GB) to all customers as standard.

Nearly one million Brits travelled abroad during last year’s autumn half term according to O2’s roaming data**, and as the only major UK network to offer inclusive EU roaming (up to 25GB) to all customers as standard, O2 is helping holidaymakers to stay connected and safe online while travelling abroad this half term.

According to research by O2, mobile data is essential for holidaymakers, with nearly half (43%) of Brits saying that a lack of mobile data would negatively impact their trip. This concern is even more prominent among millennials, as more than two-thirds (68%) say mobile data is crucial. In fact, one in three (33%) millennials admit they wouldn’t leave their holiday accommodation without access to it.

Separate research*** by Virgin Media O2 identified that 8 in 10 (79%) Brits join unfamiliar WiFi networks while abroad in a bid to get connected. Nearly half (49%) of consumers are unaware that this can put their privacy at risk and leave them vulnerable to potential cyberattacks.

Gareth Lister, Director of Connectivity at Virgin Media O2, said: “Going on holiday is exciting, but it can also feel disorienting if you’re travelling somewhere new or juggling travel plans with family needs.

Staying connected while away can help to reassure holidaymakers but knowing how to stay safe online provides that extra peace of mind.

“When you’re unfamiliar with your surroundings or distracted from your usual routine, it’s easier to fall victim to scams or ignore warning signs – and no one wants that added stress while on holiday. O2 has lots of handy tips and advice to help you feel more confident staying safe online, and with inclusive EU roaming available to all O2 customers, whether you’re keeping in touch with loved ones back home, preparing your route for an exciting excursion or streaming your child’s favourite show for five minutes of peace, O2 has got you covered so there’s no need to get in a fluster trying to connect to unknown WiFi hotspots.”

O2’s top tips for staying safe online while abroad include:

1. Be wary of accommodation scams: Before you slip into holiday mode, be cautious of fake booking messages. Action Fraud**** has reported a surge of reports where fraudsters hijack legitimate accommodation accounts and send convincing emails or app messages to guests. These messages often ask for payments or card details, so always double-check with the official booking platform before making any transactions.
2. Don’t get caught out by public WiFi: While enjoying your beachside brunch or airport layover, steer clear of unknown public WiFi networks. Connecting to unfamiliar networks can leave users vulnerable to cyberattacks. It’s best for families to use mobile data or secure, password-protected networks, like those provided by your hotel, trusted restaurants or by hot spotting off a family member who has data.
3. Scan with caution: QR codes are everywhere, from menus to museum guides, but some can be tampered with to lead you to malicious sites. Before scanning, make sure the source is trustworthy, especially in busy tourist areas. Keep an eye out for ref flags like an unsecured URL, low quality images, typos or grammatical errors that a professional website wouldn’t usually have.
4. Turn on holiday mode, turn off unused services: Whilst you’re on the go, visiting tourist attractions and clocking up the steps, remember to turn off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and location services when not in use. These can be exploited for tracking or unauthorised access.
5. Add extra protection to your mobile plan: Before you head off on your travels, consider adding mobile security software to your mobile such as McAfee Mobile Security Plus Online Privacy and Identity Protection. It’s like sunscreen for your data, offering VPN, safe browsing, and a clever Text Scam Detector that uses AI to warn you about suspicious links in messages before you click. O2 Ultimate Plan customers get this service included within their plan, and those on other O2 plans can add it for £24.99 per month.

ENDS

Notes to Editor

• *The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2000 UK Respondents (Nat Rep 16+). The data was collected between 04.06.2025 – 06.06.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
• **O2 Motion data was recorded during the autumn Half Term during the week of 26.10.2024, this saw 993,000 O2 customers abroad. O2 Motion is a service that uses anonymised and aggregated data created by the mobile phone network to offer insight into movement trends across the UK. As mobile devices connect to different masts, they create data footprints which O2 can then anonymise, aggregate, and extrapolate in order to gain a picture of how people are travelling, when they make journeys and which areas they visit. O2 Motion is based on connection data between a device and the phone mast only. It does not collect GPS data and the service isn’t used for ‘contact tracing’.
• ***Research by Virgin Media O2 Total sample: 1,020 Members of the UK Public. Sample is representative by gender, age and NUTS 1 region, against the most recent ONS data. Fieldwork between 10.10.24 – 11.10.24. All numbers below are rounded.
• **** Between June 2023 and September 2024, Action Fraud received 532 reports from individuals, with a total of £370,000 lost.
• The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2000 UK Respondents (Nat Rep 16+). The data was collected between 04.06.2025 – 06.06.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.