Hackers Create Fake Wi-Fi Spots to Scam Vacationers

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 11, 2009 1:50 PM CDT
Hackers Create Fake Wi-Fi Spots to Scam Vacationers
Hackers are catching vacationing laptop users unaware.   (Shutterstock)

If you’re planning to take your laptop on the road this summer, pay careful attention to which wireless network you sign on to. Scammers are setting up fake wi-fi hot spots in tourist-friendly places like airports and hotels, or simply using official, but unsecured networks, Fox News reports. Once an unsuspecting traveler logs in, a cybercriminal can easily raid his computer for information.

A group of “white hat” hackers—who try to thwart “black hat” cybercriminals—conducted a tour of 27 airports, and the results weren’t pretty. “People just log in to the first robust network they see,” said a group spokesman. “We found only 3% were using a secure network.” What’s worse, many were banking online, buying stock. “These are not the kinds of things you want to do on public wi-fi,” says one hacker. (More hackers stories.)

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