Are you au fait with wardriving? ESET’S Lucas Paus explains the best ways to survey wireless networks while you’re on the move. Hint: avoid free Wi-Fi networks!
The post Wardriving: A digital census of Wi-Fi networks? appeared first on WeLiveSecurity
Wi-Fi networking is absolutely essential to the modern home. From smartphones to games consoles to intelligent thermostats like Nest, virtually every appliance now requires a wireless internet connection.
As a result, there is all kinds of valuable information being transmitted across your Wi-Fi network – credit card numbers, passwords and sensitive photos and files. Which makes your network a natural target for cybercriminals.
Because you can’t see wireless network signals, you cannot easily tell how far they reach. It is not unusual for your network to extend into the street outside your house – which provides an opportunity for hackers to get connected.
Using basic cracking tools, it is possible to bypass Wi-Fi network security in as little as 10 minutes. It may be that these hackers simply want to use your internet connection to get online – not as serious as stealing your sensitive personal information, but still stealing nonetheless.
The first sign that your Wi-Fi network has been compromised will probably be a general decrease in internet speeds. The more people connected to your network, the more problems you will have loading webpages or streaming videos
If you notice anything strange happening on your network, you must investigate. The first thing to check will be the Wi-Fi router itself.
Log into your router using the username and password supplied when it was installed (they are often printed on a sticker on the rear of the unit). The specifics for each router are different, but you are looking for the Wi-Fi status page which lists all the devices that have connected, or are connected, to your network.
These details may be under a section called Attached Devices, Device List or Home Network for instance.
The list should look something like the image below (we’ve blocked out some of the most sensitive details):
Have a look through the listing, looking for any devices that are unfamiliar. Any devices you don’t recognise indicate a hacker may have compromised your network security.
It is possible that some of the devices have “unfriendly” names that aren’t immediately recognisable, but which are completely legitimate. Make sure you check all of your Wi-Fi-attached devices before panicking!
There are a number of advanced techniques for improving your Wi-Fi network security, like locking down network access to pre-approved devices based on the unique MAC identifier. Far simpler, and almost as effective, is to simply choose a more robust security protocol.
The latest, most secure option is WPA2 as shown below:
Just remember that if you do change the security protocol setting, you may have to reconnect all of your Wi-Fi devices – but that’s a small price to pay to prevent people cracking their way onto the network.
You should also add a second layer of security to deal with the eventuality that a hacker still manages to break in. A comprehensive security application installed on your PCs and Android phones will help prevent your personal data being stolen. This has the added benefit of blocking viruses and to protect younger members of your family from questionable web content.
you need to stay aware of what is happening on your network to keep the bad guys out. These tips will help you tell if something is wrong and help to formulate an effective response.
In the meantime, download a free trial of Panda Security to protect your PCs while you check your router.
The post How to tell if your Wi-Fi network has been hacked appeared first on Panda Security Mediacenter.
Enjoy going for a drink at your local coffee store whilst getting some work done or browsing the web? With more and more cafes, bars and libraries these days resembling public workspaces and free Wi-Fi feeling like an essential part of daily life, it is very easy to go to a local café and feel at home.
Let’s have a look at some of the dangers one faces when connecting to a public network:
It’s easy to take for granted that a venue’s network actually belongs to that specific venue.
How many times have you sat down at a cafe and connected to the venue’s network at the click of a button? It’s this simplicity that hackers take advantage of when creating a malicious access point.
It’s very easy for an attacker to create a fake page that looks very much like the real thing. For example, when you sign up to the network you may be redirected to a Facebook sign in page. This could potentially be a fake, and entering your details would send them straight to the cyber attacker.
Luckily there are small indicators that can help us, on most occasions, to know if a page is definitely a fake.
Facebook for example, encrypts all data sent to its pages by connecting its users via SSL.
If any page that typically connects through SSL doesn’t show a padlock next to the page address it’s best not to give personal details!
In an open network it is very easy for an attacker to capture the data traffic sent from your device. In fact, there are free easy to use apps, called “sniffing apps”, dedicated to this very purpose.
Although the common WPA2 routers do encrypt connections, these apps are capable of sniffing out the PSK (password). If an attacker does this they can then decrypt all traffic connected from a device to the network.
These risks have actually led police in Derbyshire in the UK to release a statement this month on the growing dangers of cyber crime:
“The UK now has more than 300,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots, which means more people than ever before are potential targets for cyber criminals, simply because they don’t know how secure the networks they’re using are.”
Sadly, even when you’re connected to a venue’s actual network you have no guarantee of privacy. In fact, venues often use their public Wi-fi hotspots to gather information about consumers.
Though third-party data gathering isn’t likely to end up with your passwords or your identity being stolen, your personal details are often being taken without your consent.
Whilst most venues directly ask a customer for an email address or number in order to access their Wi-fi, some go the extra mile of injecting cookies into your device’s network in order to track your browser history, typically resulting in an onslaught of targeted ads.
A great way to protect yourself against these attacks as well as against sniffing apps is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service. This will ensure that all data traffic from your device is encrypted, whether the page you’re visiting is secure or not.
Another step that can be taken is to use a personal mobile broadband dongle, which, though slower, can be used in public spaces and is less likely to be compromised.
The best bet always, however, is simply to avoid sharing personal information, especially bank details, when on a public network. Stick to that principal rule and you should be ok.
Happy browsing!
The post Is it safe to connect to a public Wi-Fi hotspot? appeared first on Panda Security Mediacenter.
One championship, 24 teams, and millions of smartphones. The action’s not on the field. It’s in your hands.
The post Don’t let the bad guys score: Get your defenses ready appeared first on Avira Blog.
Free Wi-Fi is great. It’s convenient when you are away from your home network and want to connect to the Internet using your mobile phone, and it saves money and data. But there is a dark side.
Avast SecureLine VPN keeps you safe when connected to an unsecured Wi-Fi
Unsecured networks can expose you to a hacker who can easily read your messages, steal your logins, passwords, and credit card details. The danger is that you never know when it could happen, or where, so having a way to secure your device when connected to an unsecured Wi-Fi hotspot is the best protection.
To avoid the potential of a snoop stealing your private information, you basically have two choices: Stop using unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots or make sure you always have a secure connection by using a VPN (virtual private network), like Avast SecureLine VPN.
A VPN sounds extremely techie, and it is, under the hood. Avast mobile security developers created SecureLine to give you a secure and reliable private connection for your data between computer networks over the Internet. Your outgoing and incoming data is encrypted and it travels in its own private “tunnel” and is decrypted at the other end.
When you use Avast SecureLine VPN, everything you do is anonymous. We don’t keep logs of your online activity, and thanks to SecureLine, no one else will either.
Avast SecureLine VPN for Android and iOS takes all that tech goodness and puts it in a simple-to-use app. All you do is tap a connect button, and the app does the rest.
Install Avast SecureLine VPN on your iPhone or iPad and try it free for 7 days.
Install Avast SecureLine VPN on your Android smartphone or tablet and try it free for 7 days.
After you install Secureline, click connect and choose a server from 27 locations in 19 countries, or let SecureLine choose the closest one. You can turn the secure connection on and off with one click.
One of the benefits of connecting with a VPN, especially if you are travelling overseas, is that you can connect to a server back home. This way you can access your favorite entertainment portals without getting that annoying “content blocked” message.
Avast SecureLine is also available for PC and Mac. Visit the Avast Store for pricing information.
Your iPhone data may require a court order for the FBI to look into the contents, but if you log onto an unsecure Wi-Fi hotspot without protection, any old snoop can eavesdrop on what you’re doing.
That’s right, while you’re busily messaging, shopping, banking, and uploading a photo of your lunch to Instagram, a hacker with a little know-how can easily read your messages, steal your logins, passwords and credit card details.
Even if you are connected to a recognizable Wi-Fi network, your device has no way of distinguishing a securely encrypted public Wi-Fi from one that is not.
Unsecured routers are susceptible to DNS hijacking, by which cybercriminals redirect web traffic to fake Internet sites. When users log in, for example, to a banking site, thieves can capture the login credentials. On unprotected Wi-Fi networks, thieves can also easily see emails, browsing history, and personal data if you do not use a secure or encrypted connection like a virtual private network (VPN).
Avast SecureMe is a free app for iPhones and iPads which protects you while connected to Wi-Fi. Avast SecureMe includes Wi-Fi Security, which scans Wi-Fi connections and notifies you of security issues. It also identifies threats and risks which include routers with weak passwords, unsecured wireless networks, and routers with vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers. This helps you make a better decision when choosing a Wi-Fi connection. Avast SecureMe also features Avast SecureLineVPN (a subscription fee is required) which you can use if there are no safe Wi-Fi networks available. Avast SecureMe is available in the Apple App Store.
If you are attending Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, February 22 – 25, please visit Avast to see the Avast SecureMe app in hall 8.1, booth H65.
Follow Avast on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+ where we keep you updated on cybersecurity news every day.
That’s right, while you’re busily messaging, shopping, banking, and uploading a photo of your lunch to Instagram, a hacker with a little know-how can easily read your messages, steal your logins, passwords and credit card details.
Even if you are connected to a recognizable Wi-Fi network, your device has no way of distinguishing a securely encrypted public Wi-Fi from one that is not.
Unsecured routers are susceptible to DNS hijacking, by which cybercriminals redirect web traffic to fake Internet sites. When users log in, for example, to a banking site, thieves can capture the login credentials. On unprotected Wi-Fi networks, thieves can also easily see emails, browsing history, and personal data if you do not use a secure or encrypted connection like a virtual private network (VPN).
Avast SecureMe is a free app for iPhones and iPads which protects you while connected to Wi-Fi.
Everyone loves saving their data by using free Wi-Fi hotspots, but that can be risky if the hotspot is unsecure. Hackers can eavesdrop on what you’re doing, see your messages, watch the sites you navigate to, and even steal usernames and passwords. 
New Avast Wi-Fi Finder is an Android app that can help you find reliable, fast, and secure Wi-Fi connections, wherever you are. With the mobile app’s user-friendly map interface, it’s easy to find hotspots recommended by people around the world. Avast Wi-Fi Finder helps you select a secure Wi-Fi connection without the worry of going over your data plan or the frustration of slow data connections. Avast Wi-Fi Finder is free for Avast Mobile Security users. Download Avast Wi-Fi Finder from the Google Play Store. For iOS, download Wi-Fi Finder from iTunes.
“Many of us have found ourselves in situations when traveling or working remotely in which we’re unable to find reliable and secure Wi-Fi,” said Gagan Singh, president of mobile at Avast. “With the Avast Wi-Fi Finder, consumers are now able to find a safe and fast Wi-Fi connection whether you’re at the gym, hotel, airport, bus station, library or café.”
The Avast Wi-Fi Finder helps you:
In August 2015, Avast launched a product crowdsourcing program that allowed Avast Mobile Security users to help Avast harvest nearby available Wi-Fi spots. By enlisting our 230 million users, our team collected Wi-Fi hotspot data from volunteers and evaluated each hotspot’s security level before launching Avast Wi-Fi Finder.
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Highlights from the last seven days in information security include ESET’s latest trends report (In)security Everywhere and the ongoing cyberattacks against Ukraine’s electric power industry.
The post The security review: ESET’s trends for 2016, more attacks in Ukraine and virtualized security appeared first on We Live Security.
If you’re running an open Wi-Fi network, you’re opening yourself up to risk in several ways.
Basic ways to secure your home Wi-Fi:
Most of these security measures can be done by connecting to your router’s settings.
These basic tricks should help you keep your home Wi-Fi network safe from uninvited guests…
