NationStates Jolt Archive


Beware of Wi-Fi Traps

Sel Appa
29-03-2007, 01:14
Hackers are setting up their own Wi-Fi to get access to your passwords and stuff. Be wary the next time there are two tmobile's or hiltonfreewifi's. Either way, you should do banking at a bank and not from your computer.

Link (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/23163/beware-the-evil-twin-wi-fi-hotspot)

Hop into Starbucks or an airport terminal and you may find yourself tempted by the inexpensive Wi-Fi service offered. Fire up your computer, browse the wireless networks available, and maybe you'll jump on a network named "tmobile" or "wayport" or some other common name among Wi-Fi service providers. Sure enough, your browser pulls up a page asking for your credit card information... or maybe you'll find yourself with "free" access to the internet. Surprise: You might have just been punk'd by a hacker.

Such is the case of the "evil twin" hotspot, a rising danger for users who rely on public hotspots for internet access. The trick is simple: A hacker just creates a hotspot with the same name (or a very similar one) as a legitimate hotspot nearby, hoping to dupe web surfers into connecting to the hacker hotspot instead of the legitimate one. The goal is the usual fare: Collect user names, passwords, credit card numbers. All the good stuff.

The Los Angeles Times notes that such lookalike networks are on the rise, and though this scam has been around for many years, it seems to be rising in popularity. My hunch? Wireless routers have better range than ever before, and it's practically child's play to set up a harvesting web site to dupe people into giving up their personal information. And since your laptop will automatically connect to any network you've connected to in the past (Windows thinks any network named "linksys" is the same network no matter where you go), people can be duped by evil twin hotspots without ever knowing it.

So what can you do about it? Sadly, not a lot, and all that security software on your laptop won't help you one bit if you willingly connect to one of these hotspots. As with most scams, diligence is your best ally: Learn what legitimate hotspot web pages look like. Hackers rarely make a perfect copy. If you encounter anything out of the ordinary, disconnect from the hotspot immediately. Tell the manager of the establishment you're trying to connect to that something funny is going on. They may not do anything about it, but hopefully they'll call the cops and encourage them to track down the signal.
Call to power
29-03-2007, 01:17
day by day my policy of having absolutely no cash pays off :p
Vetalia
29-03-2007, 01:18
Any wireless online banking has to be done over a secured network that you can already trust; anyone dumb enough to do it over a public wireless network is bound to get ripped off. I mean, I love online banking as much as anyone but I'd never use a public service to do it; besides, most airports have an ATM for my bank in them anyways.
UNITIHU
29-03-2007, 01:19
Just more proof that computers need to be banned.
Widfarend
29-03-2007, 01:21
Just more proof that computers need to be banned.

Or just hackers and people that aren't carefull with their money.

Except the fact that hacking is illegal and people that don't watch their money get punished in their negligence.
Sel Appa
29-03-2007, 01:25
Any wireless online banking has to be done over a secured network that you can already trust; anyone dumb enough to do it over a public wireless network is bound to get ripped off. I mean, I love online banking as much as anyone but I'd never use a public service to do it; besides, most airports have an ATM for my bank in them anyways.

My dad does. I keep meaning to warn him about it...
UNITIHU
29-03-2007, 01:25
Or just hackers and people that aren't carefull with their money.

Except the fact that hacking is illegal and people that don't watch their money get punished in their negligence.

Sarcasm just whooshed over your head, didn't it?
Widfarend
29-03-2007, 01:26
Sarcasm just whooshed over your head, didn't it?

No. ;)
Vetalia
29-03-2007, 01:27
My dad does. I keep meaning to warn him about it...

It's a really bad idea, unless of course he has a good knowledge of the networks that are secure to use. I mean, identity theft is a real hassle to undo; even a relatively small number of charges in your name can wreak havoc with your credit and take a while to completely rectify.
Vetalia
29-03-2007, 01:29
Also:

IT'S A TRAP!
UNITIHU
29-03-2007, 02:07
Also:

IT'S A TRAP!

Are you Admiral Ackbar? No, I didn't think so.


Serious post:

Anyone who falls for that seriously deserves it. It should happen more often.
Sel Appa
29-03-2007, 02:12
It's a really bad idea, unless of course he has a good knowledge of the networks that are secure to use. I mean, identity theft is a real hassle to undo; even a relatively small number of charges in your name can wreak havoc with your credit and take a while to completely rectify.

We use/used some unknown wireless in our neighborhood.

Also:

IT'S A TRAP!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6e/AckbarStanding.jpg/300px-AckbarStanding.jpg
Wot!