ENTRY 03 - The Dark Side of Using Public WiFi

The goal of this blog is to create awareness among many individuals that accessing public free WiFi can be harmful and that if they do access it, they must do so with the understanding that they will be putting their personal information at risk of fraud or theft. Our professor began last week's lesson with a PowerPoint presentation of a post urging people not to use public free Wifi. Why? Merely because scammers may take advantage of the opportunity to steal your personal information and obtain access to your account, which may be terrible, especially if you were undertaking a vital business activity.

What gadgets are used by cybercriminals to steal your credentials? Let me first point out that there is a YouTube video link in the same picture presentation that our lecturer gave that highlights social media scams. In the video, the specialist adds that the internet is a dangerous and scary place and that there need to be someone to guide elderly and young people because they are the prime targets of cybercrime. Because cybercrime, including phishing, is comparable to Covid since if one person is afflicted, others may be the next target of phishing based on information obtained from the affected individual's connections and transactions.

Now I'll go through the two devices mentioned in the video that cybercriminals use for scamming and hacking.

1.) WiFi Pineapple

The first device shown in the video was this router, which got its name from the multiple antennae it carries; however, despite it having a fruity and sweet nickname, this router may steal your credentials without your knowledge or agreement. When this router is in public, users connect to it thinking it is a typical free WiFi set up in public, and its goal is to steal data that is being exchanged.

2.) Rubber Ducky

Finally, while it has nothing to do with the blog's title, it's worth highlighting the "Rubber Ducky" device mentioned in the video. It may appear and act like a USB, but it is a one-of-a-kind drive with a microchip within which can be seen when the USB's casing is removed. When plugged into a laptop, computer, or similar device, the chip transmits orders that are executed automatically and swiftly. Due to these circumstances, an unintended download of a malicious app occurs, which operates inside the background of a device that saves and transfers information to the hacker.

The YouTube video was quite useful in informing me about the technologies utilized by cybercriminals in their operations. Here are some tips to keep you secure when using public WiFi.

1.) Avoid using your passwords.

2.) Turn off sharing. 

3.) Turn off network discovery.

3.) Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

4.) Avoid doing serious transactions in hotspots.

5.) Check the network's legitimacy when connecting.

7.) Firewall should be enabled.

8.) Download an active antivirus application.

9.) All Wi-Fi connections should be regarded with caution.