New WiFi Danger: the "Evil Twin"

[Russ Smith]

Mobile Pipeline is reporting a new danger to users who make use of wireless "hot-spots." Apparently some scammers are setting up false hot-spots nearby legitimate hot-spots. These fake hot-spots look like the original, but route the user through a logging program which attempts to capture passwords and other personal data being sent through the network. The fake hot-spots also jam the hot-spot they are pretending to be by using a stronger signal.

This is a real danger to WiFi users both because it is difficult to spot the deception and it is easy for the scammers to set up their "evil twin" hot-spots. This will probably drive hot-spot providers to install extra levels of security, unfortunately with the related extra difficulty in set-up and compatibility issues for the users.