Protect Yourself from Wi-Fi Scams at Public Locations
Although hackers can and have set up fake Wi-Fi connections in a number of venues, usually they will target consumers at airports and other places where a lot of travelers gather for internet access. Here is how to protect yourself:
When searching for connections, consumers may see a network connection available that could be simply named “Free Wi-Fi.” Thinking it’s the free connection offered by the establishment, they’ll log on. Unfortunately, the network may actually be an “ad- hoc” network, or a peer-to-peer connection. The user will be able to surf the Internet, but they’re doing it through the hacker’s computer. And the whole time, the hacker could potentially steal information you are sending over the network, such as passwords, credit card and bank account numbers, and social security numbers. Beyond simply stealing keystroke information as the user enters various types of data, if the PC is set to share files, the hacker could even steal whole documents from the computer.
Airports across the nation continue to report on Wi-Fi security issues. Officials in Atlanta, New York LaGuardia and Los Angeles airports have all reported the existence of ad-hoc networks advertised as free Wi-Fi connections. An investigation revealed that Chicago O’Hare had 20 ad-hoc networks present that were potentially designed with the intent of hacking into unsuspecting user’s computers and networks.
Here is how to keep yourself safer* when you go wireless at a public location:
* Never connect to an unfamiliar ad-hoc network — even if the name sounds genuine. A hacker can change the name of his network to anything he wants, including the name of the legitimate Internet connection offered by the airport. Just because it has the same name as the Wi-Fi advertised in the airport, don’t believe it. Look for an Access Point
* Make sure that your computer is not set up to automatically connect to non-preferred networks. Otherwise your computer could automatically connect to the hacker’s network without your knowledge.
* Turn off file sharing when you’re on the road or using any public wi-fi spot, to prevent hackers from stealing entire documents, files and unencrypted e-mail from your computer.
* I used the term safeR, not safe, because the truth is: you are never completely safe when you are using a public wi-fi hotspot, ad-hoc or not. ANY unencrypted information sent over, such as the type of password transmission used by, for example, your email program (outlook, Eudora, macmail), is vulnerable to be stolen by a hacker, even when you are connected to a legit public wi-fi spot. Luckily for most people, webmail (hotmail, gmail or yahoo) uses encryption (HTTPS) to send the password over, so your email login is protected, although your email contents might not be. You are also protected (at least from your local hotspot hacker) when entering your credit card information in a secure website (HTTPS). If you want to be 100% safe, you need to use a VPN (for connecting to your workplace) or never use a public wi-fi hotspot again (at least until the current technology is improved and made more secure).
