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Your friend and neighbour WiFi

Paula on March 29, 2020

Recently I've been reading about ways to help your neighbourhood with the COVID-19 crisis, here in Spain. But one of the tips they gave was quite u...
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mateuszjarzyna profile image
Mateusz Jarzyna • Edited

Pretty good warning. But I think you should show how easy it is to steal someone's photos, or hack into computer or whatever.

Also there is a missing part "how to secure my WiFi" and "what to do when I have to connect to public wifi".

Of course, I'm not criticizing you, I was just hoping to read more about public's wifis security

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terceranexus6 profile image
Paula

Thanks! Okay so for example relying on an VPN is a nice option as long as you trust that VPN. What I do for example (firstly, avoid public WiFi, but in case that's not an option) using a pocket router with an VPN configured. About securing a WiFi, I shall note it down for now because that's more complex.

Stealing someone information used to be easier (thankfully) but even though now is still relatively easy. In any case I take your advise and think about a second part.

Thank you!

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mateuszjarzyna profile image
Mateusz Jarzyna

I look forward for second, extended pary ;)

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norman

The hacksmith did the same thing on YouTube

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Ben Sinclair

Sounds like the world needs FON.

I occasionally connect to a public wifi and then try connecting to something known to see if the certs match. It's surprising how many "real" public wifi points do this. Virgin Trains, for example, MITM everything for their "free" wifi.

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Kostas Sar

Great advice on the potential danger!

I would also like to add the point of view of the person that wants to share his internet connection but not allow malicious intruders in his personal network.

Many commercial routers include the "Guest Network" feature which does gives access to the internet for connected devices, BUT does not let them see your personal devices on your network!

Sharing is caring, but please do not neglect your personal security and privacy.

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Hieu Nguyen • Edited

Great advice. Now I know why some of my neighbor's wifi names are really weird. I am also about to take a computer networking class in college, and this post offered a pretty good preview into that. Thanks

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Paula

I hope you enjoy your class!

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Chris C • Edited

If you have an xfinity account but happen to be in an area where you are outside of your home network, Comcast opened up the public "xfinitywifi " SSD you see broadcast everywhere . You can use your credentials to sign in there and piggyback off a nearby router (I still suggest a VPN) 👍

Hope you are ok in Spain. I just returned from there on vacation. It was wonderful but almost wound up travel banned in Valencia!

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terceranexus6 profile image
Paula

Great advise over this! Thanks.

And thank you for you concern, I'm thankfully good, alongside my family, only a bit crazy to have been indoors for such a long time. Nice to know you managed to go back home.

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Stephen Leyva (He/Him)

Wasn’t this device in an episode of Silicon Valley? 😂 Great article!!

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Paula

Was it? probably hahaha

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LulaSvob • Edited

Its big brother was, not this one ;)

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Madza

Another option is to set a perfectly reliable WiFi password that cannot be guessed and cannot be easily hacked. Something like '0000' or 'password'.

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Paula

And let's not forget about "1234" or "donthackme"

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Madza • Edited

I used '1234' for some years, but it was just too hard to remember. I wrote it on a paper, took it with me wherever I went. Couple months ago I switched back to '0000' and never looked back since then.

Friends always think my password is 'sBb*pZxNJ%V@z^9a^4giveS' or something, so I know for a fact they would never go for '0000'. It's a twisted logic and my accounts are safe.

 
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Paula

Nice move!