Dangers of Public Wifi

Public Wi-Fi is Public, Use it Safely!

Hello,

There has been a recent increase in the number of attackers using various different techniques against targets using public Wi-Fi. They range from setting up fake hotspots which have names similar to nearby restaurants and cafes to snooping on what other users are doing on legitimate public Wi-Fi connections.

It’s important to remember that public Wi-Fi, such as in coffee shops, restaurants, and airports, is open to the public. Anyone can set one up with any name, and even on legitimate public networks, anyone can connect and see what other people on the networking doing. This includes what websites you visit, what you look at on those websites, as well as the credentials you use to log in.

The best solution is to avoid using public Wi-Fi if you can. The mobile data (4g) on your phone is much more secure, even if it may be capped or limited. If you absolutely must use a public Wi-Fi connection, follow these tips.

Avoid unencrypted websites – look for the padlock symbol in your browser. This means the website is encrypted and more secure than other websites. If there’s no padlock, it’s trivial for anyone on the same network to see everything you see and type.

Use a VPN – If you have a VPN app available, ensure it is working and connected. A VPN will protect your internet traffic from anyone snooping on a public network.

Avoid sensitive websites – never do your internet banking on public Wi-Fi, even if it’s encrypted. Sensitive data should never be sent or accessed on public Wi-Fi

Look out for warning messages – many attacks over public Wi-Fi are noticed by your browser and will result in a warning message. Pay extra attention to these warnings when connected to public Wi-Fi.

HTTPS Everywhere – Many apps are available that force websites to use encryption, use these whenever you are connected to public Wi-Fi

Phone Settings – Ensure your phone is not set up to connect to Wi-Fi connections automatically.

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Latest Cryptolocker Virus

What is Cryptolocker?

If you are not already aware or have not fallen to victim, Cryptolocker is a form of malware that encrypts files/company data on the victim’s computer & servers then holds them to ransom. The new version of Cryptolocker targeting Australians and is demanding ransoms anywhere between $400- $1500 AUD

How it infects?

There are many different ways Crypo can inject itself into your network, most reported forms are via email. The emails have been manufactured to look official and usually from an organization with big importance & urgency for attention. for example view the below mock up emails.

How to Prevent?

There is no solid way to prevent Crypto 100% as there really isn’t with any other Malware, best steps would be to ensure you have working backups, Webroot antivirus has a strong success rate to protect you against infection. If you are a Welkin IT client this will be constantly monitored to ensure the best results.

What to do if you become infected?

Usually people will notice they are infected when they simply cant open files either from their server or locally, you will then notice that some files will have some weird naming conventions in the extensions of the file name, at this point it is urged to immediately turn off all computers and servers, this will prevent further encryption and minimize resolution times.

You should then advise us that you have taken these steps for us to further correct the issue as fast as possible.

Microsoft Authorized Education Partner

Want to discover the meaning behind all this? Then watch our videos to stay tuned! We will release more Welkin IT videos to break down the barriers of technical jargon and give you a better understanding.