Hacker's Fake Public WiFi Connections to Access Your Device

Hackers fake Public Wi-Fi Networks to Access your phone and other devices.

Beware of public Wi-Fi networks as hackers are spoofing free Wi-Fi locations in coffee shops, restaurants and other places to get into your mobile phone.It’s extremely easy, especially when you have your device set to automatically connect to available networks. You’re giving access to unscrupulous people even when you aren’t using your phone!

1. Turn off the “automatically connect to available networks” as a first line of defense against hackers who randomly target you.
2. Make sure you are connecting to the right public network, by verifying the network connection provided at the place you are.
3. Don’t assume you have the right network because the connection has the name of the business. Hackers are smart enough to name their spoofed connection to match the business, giving you a false sense of security.
4. Hackers have applications that will disconnect you from the legitimate free Wi-Fi service and refer you to their connection, making you vulnerable. Do not connect to an unknown Wi-Fi connection if disconnected from the legitimate connection. Ask the store manager for help or at least make them aware of a potential security threat. There's a strong chance the hacker is sitting within range of you.
5. Automatically assume anyone is capable of hacking your connected device. Even a 7-year-old girl is capable of hacking into your device as demonstrated in this Daily Mail post.

Public Wi-Fi is an excellent service that often dictates where we do business, yet it exposes us in ways we've not thought out. That’s why we must do everything we can to avoid hackers gaining access to our connected devices.

Keep your devices as locked down as you can by investing in encryption programs for at risk data. Programs such as Knox are highly secure vaults that keep hackers from gaining access to credit card information, private documents and personal photos.

Use caution when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks with both company & personal devices, and be wary of the 7-year-old sitting next to you with a serious look, staring at a computer screen. That little girl might be infiltrating your network as you're reading this now!

WatchPoint Data educates, monitors and secures your data, so you’re able to productively run your business. Visit our service offerings and contact our security experts for more information on how to keep your business safe.