Free WiFi and Security Risks

[CadieLog]

 I have been reading about the security experts recommending not to charge phones at USB stations: https://kfor.com/2019/07/02/security-experts-warn-against-wifi-cell-phone-charging-stations/

Not only that, stations providing free WiFi will be tracking users at every stop. It shows how much insecure we are. I have started accumulating some resources about WiFi security to make a complete list here: https://infosec.hatenablog.com/

Any additional resources will be appreciated. Thanks 

[DeepuEzy]

I have been reading about the security experts recommending not to charge phones at USB stations: https://kfor.com/2019/07/02/security-experts-warn-against-wifi-cell-phone-charging-stations/

Not only that, stations providing free WiFi will be tracking users at every stop. It shows how much insecure we are. I have started accumulating some resources about WiFi security to make a complete list here: https://infosec.hatenablog.com/

Any additional resources will be appreciated. Thanks 

The Public Wifi is meant to be used for emergency purposes or you can use it when you are just doing some usual browsing stuff..

It's better to always avoid any public wifi for any confidential transaction including banking, email id etc.

Nowadays everyone has a good internet speed via. Mobile Data, i think majority users in most of the countries use that only, may-be sometime you are low on Mobile Data or no network access, in such scenario you could use the Public Wifi.

Also, Public Wifi won't give you a good amount of speed, as majority of the times they are restricted with speed based on each connected user, so a person can hardly download anything or stream video in HD Quality. It's primarily meant for the basic browsing usage only.
Rest depends upon country to country..

Anyways, just had a look at your blog, it's nice..

PS: Looks like this Hatena Blog is a Japanese based blog service provider ?

[boyptc]

I stopped connecting to public wifi's, you don't know on who's connected that's too good to track people that are connected to the same network.

I've watched a youtube video before that there were 2 folks that connected to a hotel's wifi connection and they eventually got the info of people connected to the same network. It's better to go on your mobile data than to use public wifi.

[peter0425]

Yes, I would agree that we shouldn't connect to public WI-FI because of the risk. However, even private WI-FI can be spoof as well, you can read this thread for more information - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5164359.0.

[DENNB]

It is quite easy to inject a javaScript code with a MITM-attack threw the public wifi into your device. So you could setup a monero miner on other peoples devices without their knowledge. Following from this I would recommend to avoid free wifis. You can search for Mining Monero with MITM attack [Bettercap] on youtube if you want to know more about it.

[CadieLog]

Nowadays everyone has a good internet speed via. Mobile Data, i think majority users in most of the countries use that only, may-be sometime you are low on Mobile Data or no network access, in such scenario you could use the Public Wifi.

Unfortunately, mobile cellular network can be also get hacked  I was actually searched if we could avoid such hacking but found some news about Signalling System 7 (SS7) protocols being vulnerable. https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mbzvxv/criminals-hackers-ss7-uk-banks-metro-bank

It not only hacks the internet but also our cellular network services sms, calls, etc. 

Anyways, just had a look at your blog, it's nice..

PS: Looks like this Hatena Blog is a Japanese based blog service provider ?

Yep, one of my friends was using it and told me to try. I think I should've taken it to medium.

[CadieLog]

It is quite easy to inject a javaScript code with a MITM-attack threw the public wifi into your device. So you could setup a monero miner on other peoples devices without their knowledge. Following from this I would recommend to avoid free wifis. You can search for Mining Monero with MITM attack [Bettercap] on youtube if you want to know more about it.

Miners are nasty ones, I experienced it on my browser and my laptop started heating up and everything got extremely slow. I used to laugh at the term Man In The Middle (mitm) but unfortunately it hurts real bad in the middle where you do not expect it 

[CadieLog]

Yes, I would agree that we shouldn't connect to public WI-FI because of the risk. However, even private WI-FI can be spoof as well, you can read this thread for more information - https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5164359.0.

Thanks for the resource. I'm adding it in the blog 

[Johnzky]

I have been reading about the security experts recommending not to charge phones at USB stations: https://kfor.com/2019/07/02/security-experts-warn-against-wifi-cell-phone-charging-stations/

Not only that, stations providing free WiFi will be tracking users at every stop. It shows how much insecure we are. I have started accumulating some resources about WiFi security to make a complete list here: https://infosec.hatenablog.com/

Any additional resources will be appreciated. Thanks 

EVen your mobile will warn you for security risk when you are connected to  a public wifi and its never recommended to use them when you are doing something more valuable like logging in to your bank account,etc.

Hacker is great on this thing and even you are using your own IP address still they can harm you specially if you are entering sites randomly that can bring malware or some phishing sites as well

What we need is better bookmarked all the sites you usually use,and prefer from surfing randomly because those sites might hurt our accounts

[Artemis3]

I have been reading about the security experts recommending not to charge phones at USB stations: https://kfor.com/2019/07/02/security-experts-warn-against-wifi-cell-phone-charging-stations/

Not only that, stations providing free WiFi will be tracking users at every stop. It shows how much insecure we are. I have started accumulating some resources about WiFi security to make a complete list here: https://infosec.hatenablog.com/

Any additional resources will be appreciated. Thanks 

Unless you know how to use Tor and make your apps go thru it. Ie. Orbot and Waterfox/Telegram configured to use it... There is more to that of course, but every little step helps.

[jjbanks994]

I have heard that using free wifi is really bad as well, does that make your stuff susceptible to being hacked?

[Artemis3]

I have heard that using free wifi is really bad as well, does that make your stuff susceptible to being hacked?

They can essentially be man in the middle and attempt to harvest your passwords, do phishing etc. And also attempt to install malware and execute known exploits.

[felicialee]

From this perspective, wifi in public places has a huge security risk.
I am thinking about not using a mobile phone to connect to a public place network.