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A gentleman is at the airport, waiting for his flight to board. While seated at the gate, he decides to check his email. He takes out his laptop and boots it up. When he checks for wireless connections nearby, he finds a couple. He decides to connect to the one with a very strong signal, assuming that means that he’ll have the best connection. Then he goes about his business: reading emails, browsing the Internet, even doing a bit of online shopping. Shortly thereafter, the gentleman shuts down the laptop, boards his plane, and travels to his destination.
What the unsuspecting gentleman did not know and would not realize for some time was that, despite its legitimate appearance, the WiFi connection he used was actually a dubious, connection set up by a hacker. This particular hacker set up this WiFi access point with a deceptive name and strategically placed it in a location where quick connectivity is extremely important. That hacker can now sift through anything on our gentleman’s computer, including passwords, personal information, credit card numbers, and bank account information!
This story is entirely fictitious, although the concept is grounded in fact. And REALTORS® need to be especially wary. While using an unsecured wireless connection to hack into your personal information is fairly rare, wireless security is a serious issue for anyone who regularly does work outside of their office. For REALTORS®, the need for outside productivity necessitates better Internet security. And since REALTORS® are entrusted with the personal information of their clients on a daily basis, they have still more reason to exercise caution.
Are you wondering just how safe you are when using WiFi access points? Over the past few years there have been significant changes in the WiFi world; now anyone using these Internet connections must be both skeptical and careful. As someone who has set up and who monitors his own WiFi access point in my home, I can tell you that most of these kinds of connections are not very secure. In fact, as I sit here at my desk, I can find no less than fifteen unsecured wireless connections that could be used to steal information from any computer connected to them.
Moreover, the victims of such crimes are very vulnerable. When someone is a victim of identity theft over WiFi, they likely will not be aware that their information has been stolen until it is used illegally. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the risks.
So now you know to be wary of WiFi connections, what can you actually do about it?
Keep your computer clean
Even if you are not shopping on the Internet while unknowingly connected to a fake WiFi access point, any form data or information stored on your computer can be accessed by a hacker. A particularly gifted hacker may even be able to find personal information entered on your computer even if it is not stored information in your browser. The best way to counter hackers’ attempts to steal your information is to keep them from finding the information they seek. Any information that is sensitive should always be protected on your computer with encryption or at least password protection.
Be aware
If you find yourself in a hotel or café where you know the operating business charges for WiFi, don’t connect to an unsecured free access point. While only a very small fraction of WiFi access points are deceptive and while most people will never come across an access point that is less than reputable, be aware that unscrupulous hackers can use such access points to steal sensitive information from your computer.
Use WiFi access points cautiously
It’s probably not necessary to avoid all WiFi access points, but you can certainly be safer when using them. Knowing the source of the access point can help you ensure it hasn’t been set up by a hacker. But even if you know the source, avoid inputting sensitive information, which means avoiding personal banking, Internet shopping, or even reading emails while using WiFi connections. More often than not, I find that these tasks can probably wait until you are back on a trusted and secure Internet connection.
Turn off auto connect
Many laptops automatically connect to WiFi networks that have a strong, stable signal. Make sure you turn that option off. Your computer will not know the difference between a reliable WiFi source and one that only appears to be reliable. Forcing yourself to find the connection you will be using means that you can make sure you are choosing the right one.
Use a 3G connection
Most new notebooks have the option of connecting to 3G mobile phone networks. If your laptop has a 3G radio built in, you can buy a SIM card or simply sign up with a mobile provider. Also, most mobile phone providers offer USB or express card slot mobile Internet radios. Using a 3G connection is one of your best options if you can justify the monthly access fee. Because the data is coming from the cell towers and your provider, it not only offers the convenience of a constant connection, it eliminates the worry that your connection is not trustworthy.
While most mobile users will never deal with fake WiFi access points or hackers, the need for increased scrutiny is evident, and can be met by following these simple suggestions. And while some of my suggestions might seem overly cautious or impractical, I hope that this article encourages you to be more aware of the potential dangers when using WiFi access points.
Stay tuned for part two in our next quarterly newsletter.
Greg Stinton
gstinton@realtors.org
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