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An email we recently received from a PRIVATE WiFi™ subscriber highlights a serious security issue for hotspot users on many Amtrak trains. What happens when you have VPN software to protect your sensitive information, but Amtrak prevents you from using it.
The answer might make you think twice before you connect. Read More
Hackers have developed a scary new piece of software that allows anyone to steal unsecure social network accounts (such as Facebook and Twitter) using a rooted Android phone. A rooted phone basically means a person has administrative access to their phone, which is not standard.
This software is called FaceNiff, and all a hacker has to do is download it onto their Android phone and activate it. After connecting to any nearby wifi network, they can steal any unsecure Facebook or Twitter accounts that are using the same network. Read More
For years, we have been told that HTTPS was reliable and secure, but the sad truth is this is no longer the case. If we cannot rely on websites to provide security via HTTPS, what is the answer? I strongly believe that each person needs to take individual responsibility for the privacy and security of their own Internet communications. Consider this: you have a firewall and anti-virus software on your computer, because you do not expect all sites to protect you against viruses. Why would you think you could rely on those sites to protect your communication? The only way to adequately protect your Internet communications is with a personal VPN, or virtual private network. You need to use a VPN whenever you are using a public wifi hotspot. And I happen to know where you can get a good one. Just click here and you can try it for free. Read More
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WiFi in airplanes is expensive — up to $12.95 for a single flight. So one can assume that those who use it have important, and probably confidential, information that they need to communicate. However, the fact is that wifi in airplanes is just as insecure as free wifi offered in your corner coffee shop. Read on to learn why. Read More
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Many of us assume that using a WiFi network at a hotel or airport is the same as logging into our network at home or at the office. But the risks of using WiFi networks at a hotel or airport are exponentially greater than those experienced at home or at work. This white paper outlines some of the risks and steps you can take to help protect yourself against them. Read More
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Check out this article and video from a CBS news affiliate in Atlanta, which shares the “not-so-hot part about WiFi hotspots,” and why unencrypted devices are easy for hackers to crack. Check out the video for a glimpse of people working “triple-fisted” at the café (that would be working at a table with a smartphone, laptop, and a tablet). Also hear why a security expert thinks public hotspots are now easier than ever for hackers to infiltrate, thanks to tools like Firesheep. Read More
The New York Times has published an article discussing the various issues this very website is dedicated to promoting, including data privacy breaches, hack attacks, encryption, public WiFi threats, identity theft, passwords, and other similar worries about our online safety and privacy. We applaud the New York Times for bringing these issues to light. There is still much work to be done, however, as the problem is multi-pronged and we’ve literally only scratched the surface. Read More
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Although they don’t mention Firesheep by name, this video report from a North Carolina news station shows exactly how simple it is for anyone to spy on your online surfing habits in a public WiFi network. It mentions “controversial software” and how — whether in a coffee shop, hotel room, airport, or other location with free WiFi – nothing is safe in a public WiFi hotspot. “Right now I am on the hotel wireless network and these are some of the people who’ve logged into that network,” according to one of the security analysts quoted in the accompanying article, which details how easily anyone could apply software that lets them into email accounts or to quickly grab passwords. Read More
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, paraphrasing from this article from UPI News: People who don’t understand technology simply have faith their accounts won’t be hacked. Not only is Firesheep a risk when using your Facebook or Twitter accounts, but using any public, unencrypted WiFi connection can give hackers easy ways to steal passwords and other private information, possibly leading to cybecrimes like online identity theft and online identity fraud. Read More
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In the wake of the recent Firesheep controversy (which allows almost anyone to see your accounts in a WiFi environment), Facebook now is offering an option to switch your privacy settings to an encrypted “HTTPS” protocol. This important step can keep your Facebook account safe from being hacked on an open or poorly secured wireless network, and this Gawker.com blog advises on the easy steps you can take to switch your privacy settings now. Read More
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