How Accessing Free Wifi Exposes Users’ Bank Details, Other Information To Hackers – Expert Reveals

An information security expert, David Dada has warned internet users who connect to free wifi to stop the act or risk losing vital information to hackers.

According to him, gadget users who connect to the internet through free wifi services unknowingly expose their passwords and other vital information like bank details to hackers.

Dada, as gathered by Naija News, explained that the basics of securing online transactions are to avoid logging in to free WiFi in public places as it threatens every user’s privacy.

The information security expert, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, further noted that he could set up what he described as the ‘evil twin’ network and make it accessible, adding that users who would quickly be drawn to it are giving up something in exchange unknowingly.

He explained that “When you are using unsecured WiFi, a lot of your transactions have been spoofed by someone else, and somebody else is watching what you are doing.

“You go to the supermarket, you go to the airport, you go to public places, and you see unsecured WiFi, and you decide to log in. The moment you log on to that, it is very dangerous.

“When you see free WiFi, you are actually paying for it in a way. I give you free internet, but I am going to take your information.

“I am gonna take your passwords, your username, and tokens, and I will store it somewhere. You get off my network, I go somewhere and pick all the things in your bank accounts, and I go home, and you can’t trace me anywhere.” 

Dada said no matter the kind of security platform a user has on their mobile device, once free WiFi is accessed, digital footprints are left behind

“The moment you get onto that free WiFi, you have excluded all security for your phone, so it is safer to stay away from it,” he added.