Robert Siciliano is a NextAdvisor.com Expert Guest Blogger
Most people are familiar with the violation of TJX data, including 45 million credit card numbers were stolen. TJX has recently agreed to pay $ 9.75 million to 41 states to settle an investigation into the massive data breach. According to reports, TJX has spent $ 256 million to try to solve the problem that led to the violation.
It has been repeatedly said that criminal hackers responsible for the infringement were sitting in a car outside a store when they fell on a vulnerable wireless network without protection in using a laptop computer, a telescopic antenna, and a LAN adapter 802.11. This process is called "wardriving".
WiFi is everywhere. Whether traveling for business or simply need Internet access while out and about, your options are many. You can sign in airports, hotels, coffee shops, fast food restaurants, and now airplanes. What are your risk factors when wireless? There is a lot. WiFi was not born to be sure. He was born to be practical. As the most sensitive data has been wirelessly transmitted over the years, the need for security has evolved. Today, with criminal hackers as sophisticated as they ever have been, wireless communications are at an even higher risk.
When configuring a wireless router, there are two safety techniques you can use. WiFi Protected Access is a certification program that was created in response to several serious weaknesses researchers had found in the previous system, Wired Equivalent Privacy. Wired Equivalent Privacy was introduced in 1997 and is the original form of the security of the wireless network. Wireless networks broadcast messages using radio and are thus more susceptible to listening than wired networks.
There is something to access your wireless connection from your home or office. It entirely another story when accessing other non-protected network. Setting up a secure Wi-Fi will protect the data on your network, for most, but if you are on the network to someone else, guaranteed or not, your data is at risk. Anyone using an open network risks exposing their data. There are several ways to see who is connected to a wireless connection, and access to their data.
There are some things you need to do to protect yourself when wireless use. Be smart about what type of data you transmit on a public wireless connection. There is no need to make critical transactions that sipping macchiato.
Do not store critical data on a device used outside the secure network. I have a laptop and an iPhone. If they are hacked, there is nothing of each device that compromise me.
Install Hotspot Shield. An ad supported free program, Hotspot Shield protects your entire web browsing session by securing your connection, whether at home or in public, using wired or wireless Internet. Hotspot Shield is by ensuring that all web transactions are secured through HTTPS. They also offer an iPhone application. There are based on costs of programs including Publicvpn.com and HotSpotVPN, which can create a secure "tunnel" between a computer and the server.
Disable Wi-Fi and blue tooth on your laptop or cell phone when you are not using them. An unattended emitting wireless signals is very appealing to a criminal hacker.
Beware of free Wi-Fi connections. Wherever you see a show for "free WiFi," consider it a red flag. It is likely that free WiFi is intended to act as bait.
Beware of evil twins. These are the connections that appear legitimate but are actually set traps to trap someone connects.
Make sure your Internet security software automatically updates, and critical security patches for your operating system up to date.
Investing in identity protection against theft, because when all else fails, you always have someone watching your back.
Robert Siciliano, identity theft speaker, discusses piracy without criminal wire.
Robert Siciliano is CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, an expert on identity theft, professional speaker, security analyst, published author and television news correspondent. Siciliano works with Fortune 1000 and start-up companies as a consultant on product launches, branding, messaging, representation, SEO and media. the thoughts and advice of Siciliano on all these issues often appear in both television and print media news, including CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX, Forbes and USA Today. He has 25 years of safety training as a member of the American Society for Industrial Security. He is the author of two books, including The Safety Minute: Living on high alert; How to take control of your personal safety and to prevent fraud . He also established a partnership with Uni-Ball to help raise awareness of the growing threat of identity theft and provide tips on how you can protect yourself.