Free Wi-Fi at the coffee shop might be serving up more than just internet access. A deceptive fake version could be trying to trick you into connecting to it in order to intercept your browsing and steal your personal data- this is the nature of an evil twin attack.
But what exactly is an evil twin attack, how do they work and how can you prevent being a victim of one?
What Is An Evil Twin Attack?
An evil twin attack is a malicious cyber attack where in a malicious actor creates a fake Wi-Fi access point (AP) that appears to be a legitimate one.
This cyber attack is a form of the popular Man-in-the-Middle attack that allows the attacker to intercept their victims online activity.
The goal is to trick unsuspecting users into connecting to this fake AP instead of the genuine network.
Once the victim connects to the fake access point known as ‘the evil twin’, the attacker can intercept their internet traffic. This means they can access sensitive information like login credentials, financial data, and personal communications.
Attackers often set up these fake hotspots in public places with free Wi-Fi, like coffee shops, airports, or libraries, where people are eager to connect. They might even amplify the signal of their evil twin to make it appear stronger than the legitimate network, increasing the chances of users connecting to it automatically or by mistake
How Does An Evil Twin Attack Work?
The first step to an evil twin attack involves a malicious actor locating their target and and setting up a deceptive Wi-Fi access point to act as the evil twin.
They then create a hotspot broadcasting a network name (SSID) that is either identical or very similar to a legitimate network in the local area. This could be free Wi-Fi offered by an airport or coffee shop.
The attacker can amplify their signal to appear stronger than the legitimate Wi-Fi or leave the network open and unsecured, capitalizing on users' tendency to connect to convenient and free Wi-Fi options.
In more advanced examples they might even employ deauthentication attacks. These forcibly disconnect users from the real network, prompting their devices to seek and connect to the seemingly identical evil twin.
Once an unsuspecting user connects to the fake access point, all their internet traffic is routed through the attacker's device, effectively placing the attacker in the middle of the communication.
This allows the attacker to intercept and potentially record any unencrypted data being transmitted, including login credentials and personal messages.
How To Prevent An Evil Twin Attack?
To prevent falling victim to an evil twin attack, it's important to be careful when connecting to any public Wi-Fi networks.
Always double check the legitimate network name with staff or signage and be wary of networks with slightly different spellings.
Make sure to disable automatic Wi-Fi connections on your devices to prevent them from automatically joining potentially malicious networks. Manually select the network each time and double-check the name.
Using a VPN can be a powerful step in protecting your devices. VPN’s encrypt your internet traffic, making it unreadable even if you connect to a compromised network. However it’s still important to avoid accessing sensitive information like banking details or logging into important accounts while on public Wi-Fi unless you are using a VPN.
Comments ( 0 )