Why Using a Public Wi-Fi Network Can Be Dangerous

In 1995 only an estimated one percent of the global population had internet access as of 2016 the number is skyrocketed with around 40% of the world possessing some form of internet connection for billions of people across the planet this access is a fundamental necessity vital to their livelihoods social well-being and at times physical safety

In 2011 the United Nations released a report declaring internet access to be a human right in many countries it's common not only to find people with an online connection but also locations offering access either for free or for a small fee in airports cafes and public spaces across the United States the average visitor has come to expect free Wi-Fi a wireless connection allowing Internet access without depleting stringent data plans each day millions of people use these public sources of Wi-Fi to check their social media pay bills make appointments read the news or kill time these people occasionally run afoul of hackers or use relatively simple software and deceptive techniques to capture and compromise the information of unsuspecting victims the media often depicts

These hackers as lone individuals primarily motivated by profit but that's only part of the picture Wi-Fi hacking isn't simply a matter of individual hackers bilking the naive here's where it gets crazy state-sponsored agents are involved as well consider the case of dark hotel a group of elite hackers widely considered to be under the command of a government this group first garnered public attention in two and seven

When they used wireless networks in high-end luxury hotels to hack executives across Asia security researchers believe the initial dark hotel campaigns originated in South Korea with some experts arguing the group is sponsored by the North Korean government as of this video's publish date dark hotel is still likely active and has not been apprehended and they are not the only state sponsored hackers China has a hacker army widely suspected of attacks against both other governments and private corporations this is not necessarily a field with clearly defined good or bad sides the u.s.

Particularly the NSA has also been rumored to be associated with the aggressive widespread attacks of an organization called the equation group identified by Kaspersky Labs as one of if not the most advanced espionage organizations in the world these trends seem set to accelerate as time goes on with hackers and security experts alike constantly changing strategies to control or compromise networks across the planet the next time you're in a cafe Airport or other public place carefully consider whether that free Wi-Fi is what it appears to be is it genuinely a free internet connection or is it run by someone else someone pretending to be a helpful way around a data plan a virtual wolf in digital sheep's clothing hiding something.