A cyber security expert has warned of a “massive surge” in hacking crimes as people continue to work remotely.
Employees travelling or working outside of the office network often connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots which could be responsible for the spike according to web filtering platform Titan HQ.
Providing users with remote access to the corporate network can introduce a high level of cybersecurity risk with the chance of an attacker gaining remote access.
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However, this is far from the only danger when it comes to public Wi-Fi, as hackers can also easily target individuals and their information with ease.
The most likely threat is a scammer attempting to steal a user’s information for profit, as they are often after personal details such as your name, address, financial information or social security numbers.
There is also the potential for blackmail if a hacker finds compromising documents or images on your device.
As you peruse your favourite social media site, access your email, and check to see if a financial transaction cleared your online bank account, a hacker could easily capture all of your login credentials and data.
As a result of the rise, officials have urged caution when using free Wi-Fi and to be mindful of the security risks.
There are many ways scammers can use public Wi-Fi to get to you. Here are some of the most common:
Man In The Middle attacks
These attacks are one of the most common while using public Wi-Fi.
Most hackers who use this method exploit flaws in apps or websites that allow them to view the information being passed. The information can include bank details, passwords, personal identification information, and other data that could be used for identity theft. The most common type of MITM attacks is those that occur over unencrypted and unsecured Wi-Fi networks.
The easiest way for an attacker to exploit public WiFi is to position himself between clients and the router. A man-in-the-middle attack is like eavesdropping where an attacker can get in-between points A and B and intercept data.
Sometimes this data can be modified in the process of transmission to trick the victim into disclosing sensitive information, such as login credentials. The victim will likely never notice anything is amiss. Once the user falls for the deception, the data is collected.
Fake Hotspots
Not all public hotspots are legitimate. Attackers create “free” WiFi networks (often called evil twin hotspots) in an attempt to lure in unsuspecting users.
When you connect to such a network, you give criminals an opportunity to monitor all your data. All an attacker has to do is find a high-traffic location and set up a fake network with a legitimate sounding name like ‘Hotel Wi-Fi.”
By the time the attack is uncovered, or authorities have isolated the source of the signal, the attacker has moved on - with the stolen user credentials.
The whole experience is transparent to the victim. Most of the time, the hacker allows the victims to reach their intended Internet destinations while they secretly eavesdrop on the network traffic so that they can steal the information from the victims as the victims attempt to log in to their email, provide credit card numbers while shopping online, etc.
Avoid using open Wi-Fi hotspots - always ensure they’re secured, and a password is required to access them.
Wireless "sniffing"
This is a practice where your data is observed, intercepted, and interpreted. It helps experts to diagnose any problems on the network. In the wrong hands, it can be used to monitor and collect data from unsuspecting victims.
How to stay safe on public Wi-Fi
1. Check the Terms and Conditions.
In your desire to get some free internet, it can be quite tempting to click through any terms and conditions that pop up on your screen.
However, you should be careful about what you sign up for in public. A huge amount of free public Wi-Fi also takes something from you.
These firms will give you some bandwidth as long as you agree to give them your email address and a phone number, for instance.
2. Stick to Advertised Wi-Fi Networks.
Just because you see free Wi-Fi pop up on your screen does not mean you must connect to it. Hackers are known to set up free Wi-Fi that they use to mine data from unsuspecting individuals.
If you see open Wi-Fi that is not advertised publicly, you will have to think twice about using it.
3. Only Visit Secure Sites on Wi-Fi.
The green padlock at the top left corner of your browser shows you that you are connecting to a secure site.
This sign is even more important when you are relying on free Wi-Fi.
Think hard before doing anything important when on free Wi-Fi. For instance, avoid making any credit card transactions on public Wi-Fi.
4. Switch Off Sharing.
When your device is connected to the Internet in a public area, you will not want to share anything. You can turn off sharing in the Control Panel depending on the OS you use.
You may also opt to have your OS do it for you by choosing “Public” the first time you connect to a public network.
5. Switch Off Wi-Fi Capabilities in Public.
Even when you are not actively connected to any Wi-Fi network, your computer hardware can still transmit data to any network that is in range.
There are measures in place to keep such networks from getting in touch with you. However, hackers can be quite smart, and they can get into your laptop.
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