The WLAN traps - wireless security threat

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WLAN traps - wireless security threat.

What are WLAN traps? What could happen to your PC in simple connection to hot spot? There are many hot spots today, and many of them you could use for a free. What is their security threat?

You can check your mails, surf the web during waiting in airports or train stations. But do you know, there are people just waiting to steal your data or inject malicious code into your PCs.

First there were man-in-the-middle attacks. They used your ad-hoc mode that you have forgotten on your laptop.

So if you are planning to use hotspot, check and shut down the ad-hoc mode on your PC.

Today there are more sophisticated attacks. Attackers are pretending to be access points. Usually they configure their PC to be unencrypted access point with SSID “Free Wi-Fi” or something similar. They could use this connection and open new (not free now) connection to real access point.

They could even act as a web proxy and insert malicious code into websites you are visiting. So simple disabling of file sharing would not help you. Even using operating systems like Linux, Unix or Mac do not help.

If you are dealing with delicate information during your trip, please set up VPN tunnels to your trusted networks. If your web browser or e-mail client are complaining to outdated or missing certificate, do not ignore it, disconnect instead.

Be very careful, hen you are using wireless hot spots. It is not very wise to deal with secret and delicate information on hot spots. If you must, check the following:

1) Shut down the ad-hoc mode on your PC.

2) Be very careful when you are using free hot spots. There are many websites that have list of free WLAN hot spots. Check first on them, before you are connecting.

3) Use VPN tunnels when you are dealing with delicate information.

4) Do not ignore messages in your web browser or e-mail client about outdated or missing certificate. Disconnect from this network.

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