Not only do you have to struggle with the failure rates of existing Wi-Fi hotspots, there’s also the danger of connecting to a fake networks, giving a route into your personal data and control of accounts and contacts.
Rory Cellan-Jones on the BBC has shown how easy it is to hack into your smartphone via a Wireless network. Watch the video below, and drop us a line in the comments and tell us what you think.
In the video, Tom Beale, from security firm Vigilante Bespoke says: “We’ve set up a fake wireless network, so your phone will connect wirelessly to us.” That network goes under a bogus name, one that’s “familiar” to us, and to our devices. Hackers can also find the networks that your phone is looking for.
We’re waiting on word from the two biggest providers, The Cloud and BT Openzone, on ways you can check whether the hotspot you’re connecting to is genuine, but neither has responded yet. In the meantime, it’s best to leave your Wi-Fi switched off, especially if you’re paid up to a service that automatically hooks you up to a Wi-Fi hotspot without asking.
If you want more form Wi-Fi hotspot providers, join our Facebook campign for a better service and more transparency from networks.
[via BBC]
