Many users habitually connect to and use Wi-Fi networks in public places such as cafes, hotels, and airports to access social media, shop online, or conduct online money transfers. While convenient, connecting to public Wi-Fi poses a potential risk to information security, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals.
Cybersecurity experts warn that the dangers of using public Wi-Fi are alarming, as hackers often exploit the connection to gain control, inject malware, and exploit security vulnerabilities on users' devices. Furthermore, setting up a fake Wi-Fi access point is now quite easy, allowing hackers to easily steal information, most commonly through Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) techniques.
In fact, there have been numerous cases of users having their personal information and bank accounts stolen. Ms. VNT (in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City) said that she frequently uses public Wi-Fi to browse the web and shop on e-commerce platforms. After each such visit, she receives many fake messages from financial companies and banks offering loans or claiming to have completed online transactions, along with links sent via message to confirm the transaction. "After investigating, I realized that malicious individuals had infiltrated my account, stolen my information, and lured me into clicking on fake links to steal my money," Ms. VNT recounted.
According to Mr. Mai Trung Dung, Director of Information Security at Verichains Cybersecurity, the widespread use of public Wi-Fi networks has undeniably provided great convenience in accessing social media and conducting online transactions. However, this also brings with it some security risks. Meanwhile, cybersecurity experts at Fortinet have warned of the dangers of unsafe online shopping when using public Wi-Fi networks. Accordingly, there are three common threats to users today: accessing public Wi-Fi networks, fake e-commerce websites, and software that steals credit card information.
“To avoid risks when using public Wi-Fi, users can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt transmitted data, protecting personal information from eavesdropping. Public Wi-Fi should only be used for browsing the internet and reading news. If it is absolutely necessary to handle important transactions such as online purchases or money transfers, it is best to use your own mobile data. Furthermore, credit institutions and banks advise users against using public Wi-Fi for online transactions,” Mr. Mai Trung Dung shared.
BUI TUAN
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