Computer Crime Research Center

etc/map.jpg

Free WiFi scam

Date: January 20, 2007
Source: COMPUTERWORLD
By: Preston Gralla

The next time you're at an airport looking for a wireless hot spot, and you see one called "Free Wi-Fi" or a similar name, beware -- you may end up being victimized by the latest hot-spot scam hitting airports across the country.

You could end up being the target of a "man in the middle" attack, in which a hacker is able to steal the information you send over the Internet, including usernames and passwords. And you could also have your files and identity stolen, end up with a spyware-infested PC and have your PC turned into a spam-spewing zombie. The attack could even leave your laptop open to hackers every time you turn it on, by allowing anyone to connect to it without your knowledge.

If you're a Windows Vista user, you're especially susceptible to this attack because of the difficulty in identifying it when using Vista. In this article, you'll learn how the attack works and how to keep yourself safe from it if you use Windows XP or Vista.
Original article



Add comment  Email to a Friend

Discussion is closed - view comments archieve
2007-02-26 03:01:43 - The information I found here was rather... uomo
2007-02-22 10:39:45 - Nice site you have!... dizionario
2007-01-25 11:29:40 - The link to the story about FREE Wi-Fi is... Mathea Shane
Total 3 comments
Copyright © 2001-2013 Computer Crime Research Center
CCRC logo