Article
Whether you’re on a vacation at a resort, waiting in the airport or sitting in a coffee shop, it’s often possible to connect to the Internet through a wireless network provided by the property owner. Sometimes these will be offered for a small fee and sometimes they will be free. But be careful: sometimes free "Wi-Fi" can be a scam perpetrated by criminals hoping to steal your personal information.
How it works
In general, this is how the Wi-Fi Hotspot scam works:
- Users will browse their network connections to find a wireless network in the area
- You find a network that calls itself "Free Wi-Fi", or something similar, and decide to connect
- This "Free Wi-Fi" network is not really a hotspot, but a computer-to-computer network that might have been set up as a trap
- While you can use the Internet as normal, the attackers have set up their computer to let you browse the Internet through their computer’s connection – as a result, they can see everything you do online
This trick is especially problematic if you’re visiting websites that require you to enter financial information, like a credit card number, bank account number or passwords. Since the attackers can see everything you’re doing online, they now may have access to your sensitive financial information.
Also, if you have set up your laptop to allow file sharing, the attackers can access personal files and data on your laptop, and possibly install spyware on your computer.
Beware of evil-twin hot spots
Sometimes criminals will set up a real hot spot near a café that provides Wi-Fi for customers with the sole purpose of stealing personal information. Ask the business’ staff if there is a hot spot available and get the name from them. Only connect to that network, and if you see two hot spots with the same name, don't connect to either. One might be a so-called "evil twin" set up to trick you into connecting to the phony hot spot.
Protect yourself
The easiest way to protect yourself from Wi-Fi fraud is to be cautious when using free public Wi-Fi. If you’re in a coffee shop, airport or hotel that has a legitimate Wi-Fi connection for a small fee, it’s worth the price for peace of mind. If you choose to take advantage of free Wi-Fi availability, here are some things to keep in mind.
Avoid dangerous networks
- Never connect to a "computer-to-computer" network. When choosing a wireless network, check out the description of each one. A normal wireless network is simply called "wireless network" not a "computer-to-computer" network
- Avoid conducting any financial transactions or accessing online banking websites if you are not using an Internet connection that you know and trust
Use technology to protect yourself
- Use websites that use HTTPS to access your email and avoid protocols that do not include encryption
- Use and install a secure Virtual Private Network or (VPN) when accessing public Wi-Fi as this helps keep data hidden from hackers even on comprised networks
- Set up multifactor authentication on all your apps and accounts. As this adds an extra layer of security in case any of your accounts are compromised by hackers
- Keep your devices updated with strong security features
While Wi-Fi based scams are a risk, with simple steps it’s easy to protect yourself and your information from bad actors.
If you suspect you or someone you know has fallen victim to a Wi-Fi related or any other type of scam its important to report any compromised credit card or debit cards to your bank immediately. Reporting scams also helps keep you safe, protects others, and makes it harder for scammers to succeed. For information and ways to report scams can be found in: How to report scams in Canada: a simple guide