Wi-Fi Hotspots, The Latest Targets Of Phishers

Cybernauts have been alerted about the risks of utilizing Wi-Fi access points after it was noticed that hackers are aiming the networks in coffee shops, Starbucks incorporated.

Times Online has unearthed proof that hackers are employing a method called an "malicious twin strike," where targets believe that they are accessing the real network in a coffeehouse but are in reality being deviated to a "rogue website".

The hacker installs a rogue Wi-Fi link on a laptop with some easy programming and a particular USB flash drive that serves as an entry point. After having accessed the twin networks, the hacker, who handles the link from a close by laptop exploits it to extricate data for perpetrating identity fraud, and registers each keystroke of the target.

"This is the most urgent prevailing security risk yet to be handled," stated Paul Cronin, Pentura's (which screens wireless security) technical director. "Users are expending money on firewalls and still their computers equipped with wireless cards straight away go seeking the closest network," according to reports issued on May 4, 2007 by Foxnews.

Along with the development in wireless networks, the 'malicious twin attack' is increasing, alleged Phil Cracknell, Information Systems Security Association, UK's president in a report issued by COMPUTERWORLD on April 25, 2007.

The increasing numbers of Wi-Fi networks is extending more chances to cyber-terrorists, who can make their networks seem genuine by merely offering a hotspot to a similar appearing Wi-Fi network on the site. As the cyber-terrorist may actually be nearer to the target than the actual hotspot, his signal will be more powerful, perhaps attracting more targets.

Lecturing on wireless security at the InfoSec Europe convention in London in the concluding week of April 2007, Deloitte's technology officer, Phil Cracknell told: "This kind of violation where the hacker waits around and gleans information even as you are linked to the access point is doomed to become the latest type of phishing," reports Foxnews in its May 4, 2007 edition.

There are presently over 10,000 access points throughout U.K., and extensive Wi-Fi coverage is currently available in large segments of Manchester, Edinburgh and London city.

Related article: WoW – A Current Popular Target for Identity Thieves

» SPAMfighter News - 5/14/2007