Hacking computer Wi-Fi is no longer as challenging as it used to be. In fact, even a seven year old can do it. Betsy Davis is seven and she can easily hack into a public Wi-Fi system just by googling the information, and she only needs just 11 minutes to do it. For the record, Betsy is not a criminal. She was asked to join an Internet security experiment so that people will realize that hacking into public networks and stealing info is child’s play.
Unsuspecting people lose valuable information to hackers every minute of every day. Whether you are in a hotel, at an airport, coffee shop or mall, you need to be careful. If you use a free Wi-Fi service, you need to be aware that you may be putting yourself at risk in exchange for the convenience.
People always think that each Wi-Fi system they use is secure, but that’s hardly the case nowadays. Identity thieves frequent coffee shops and other places where people go to and get connected to a free Wi-Fi . They then setup their own network and without you knowing it, you are accessing this hotspot.
It’s so easy to create a fake Wi-Fi connection that can get all your personal information whether it’s from your laptop, tablet or smartphone. And even if you managed to avoid using the thief’s Wi-Fi , they can still access a public Wi-Fi system if the owner did not have any security measures in place.
Some time ago, Kaspersky Lab, a security company bared a targeted threat against high ranking government officials and business leaders who were staying in swanky hotels. The attack began with a breach of the hotel’s network which was done prior to the guests’ arrival. When the guest connects to the Wi-Fi system of the hotel by logging in the last name and room number, the hackers were alerted. They then send an alert (pop-up) about the supposedly software update that they needed to click and download. Once the unsuspecting individual downloads the file (malware), their info is then stolen from him.
If you value your privacy and if you want to avoid becoming a victim, you need to be sceptical of Wi-Fi networks. You have to check if it’s secure before you connect to it. If you see an update by means of a pop-up, do not click on it. Instead, go to the website of this company (ie. Hotel) and confirm whether the update is real and legitimate.
You also need to practice basic safety precautions to avoid being a victim of people who make hacking computer Wi-Fi their profession. Make sure your firewall is turned on and that you have installed an antivirus and anti-malware program that can encrypt your data. Also, do not forget to turn off Sharing every time you use a Public WIFI.
Lastly, it may be better to opt for a VPN (Virtual Private Network) which will enable you to use a separate and secure network that is encrypted so you are safe even when you’re accessing a public network.
