Beware of Evil Twins at Your Local Coffee Shop

There are those who have the luxury of having a separate workspace that allows them to work efficiently and in peace at home, and there are those who do not. Sometimes, your living situation doesn’t allow you to be able to focus and be fully present, whether you have small children running around the house, noisy neighbors, or cramped quarters. Thankfully, being able to work from anywhere is one of the best advantages we have today. There is almost always access to Wi-Fi whether at a coffee shop, an airport, or a hotel. Plus, more and more people are living as working nomads and traveling the world while still being able to fulfill their job duties online.

However, where there is a will, there is a way, and sadly, the same goes for hackers. When you desperately seek a Wi-Fi connection, hackers prey on your need for immediate connection. Before you know it, you’ve fallen for an evil twin attack and may not even know it.

What is an Evil Twin Attack?

Let’s say you are rushing to make a video call with a client, and the Wi-Fi at home keeps dropping. You head to the nearest coffee shop to quickly grab a drink and a table to set up before your meeting starts. You’ve been to the coffee shop maybe once or twice before, but never had to connect to their network until now. However, it’s a place that is always busy, with plenty of tables and outlets to choose from, so you feel confident you can get your work done here easily. As you open your laptop, you have a hard time seeing a sign with the Wi-Fi network information. Time is ticking and you are running the risk of being late or missing your meeting.

Not to worry! You quickly scan the list of networks and find one with the strongest signal and the coffee shop’s name. Even better, you don’t need to enter a password or any other information to connect, and the connection is at full bars! You connect, join your video call, and maybe even stay for a little while longer to continue working before heading back home.

When the Evil Twin Prevails

Unfortunately, you might have fallen for an evil twin attack or evil twin hotspot. People are not as familiar with evil twin attacks as they are with email spam, but they do have similar concepts. There are generally two types of Evil Twin Attacks: Man in the Middle (MitM) and DNS Hijacking. MitM attacks intercept data that passes over the fraudulent hotspot, while DNS Hijacking diverts you to a malicious web page.

These attacks deliberately create a Wi-Fi network with the same name as the authorized network, making it easy for people to fall for them and connect without a second thought. They might even be able to have the same Media Access Control (MAC) address. Sound familiar? Just like bogus but tricky email scams, it’s phishing at its deceptively finest.

Like other phishing scams, attackers are able to infringe on your privacy. They can monitor any device you use to connect to the fraudulent network, steal your information, and plant additional malware or a backdoor on your device. Again, this is all done without your knowledge, which they prefer so as not to tip you off and allow themselves to continue leaching from you.

Although not a tip to rely on, evil twin attacks will rarely set up their false networks someplace that has low foot traffic. The key to their trap is to cast a wide and mostly successful net: Plenty of people passing through and in a rush, and therefore a more likely way of someone falling for their bogus network. These attacks can happen anywhere from airports to convention centers to popular coffee shops.

How to Prevent Evil Twin Attacks

Take a look at the tips below to help protect your devices from falling for these deceptive scams:

Better Safe Than Sorry

Always verify the WiFi network you are trying to connect to. Even if it means losing a few minutes of work time, it beats having to do damage control when you find out your device has been compromised. Always ask the establishment you are at what exactly the Wi-Fi name is, because chances are the hackers have used subtle ways to make theirs as close to the legitimate network as possible. You can take things a step further and double-check the network you want to connect to:

• Are there any inconsistencies like typos or misplaced characters?
• Does the network address match the establishment’s location?

Would you rather be a few minutes late to a video call, or lose all your personal data and privacy?

Turn Your Device into a Fortress

It is so easy to brush off software update notifications, but taking a moment to allow your device software to update is a good idea. Make sure your device security settings are up-to-date and robust. Update and create strong passwords are also best practices. Disable the auto-connect feature on your devices. Remember, the attack is extremely passive: the best victims are the ones who don’t realize they’ve fallen into the trap, and having your devices immediately connect to their fraudulent hotspot is the best way to collect victims without really trying. Take a look at some of our previous blogs to brush up on how to turn your devices from potential victims to fortresses.

The Silent Bodyguard: VPN

A good bodyguard makes it so you forget they are there, constantly watching over you and scanning for threats. The easiest way to ensure the best protection is by utilizing a VPN. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a technology that establishes a secure and encrypted connection between your device and the internet. This connection is routed through a remote server operated by the VPN provider, effectively masking your IP address and encrypting your online activities. They act as a barrier between your device and potential hackers, making it challenging for malicious actors to exploit vulnerabilities in your connection.

This is particularly important for remote workers and businesses that deal with sensitive corporate data. VPNs shield you from the inherent risks of using these networks by encrypting your data and protecting you from various forms of cyberattacks.

IPVanish to the Rescue!

At No-IP, we value your trust and strive to provide you with the best tools to enhance your online privacy. That’s why we’ve partnered with IPVanish, a leading VPN provider known for its commitment to security and privacy.

Among its other benefits, utilizing a VPN for protection against evil twin attacks is one of the best proactive steps you can take. A VPN encrypts your internet connection, making it difficult for hackers to access your data and infect your system with harmful malware.

Rest assured that your privacy is our top priority. IPVanish has undergone rigorous independent verification to uphold its commitment against logging. Your online activities remain confidential and protected. In a world where digital threats and privacy concerns abound, we’re dedicated to helping you reclaim your privacy and enjoy a secure online experience.

Our partnership with IPVanish empowers you to navigate the digital world with confidence. Get started now and enjoy unrestricted access to the Internet; Safeguard your personal information, bypass censorship, and stream your favorite content from anywhere in the world. Don’t let these evil twin attacks get the best of you!