Tagged: Mobile Devices

WiFi Footprint: Personal VPNs Endorsed as WiFi Hotspots and Autoconnect Functionality Proliferate

“WiFi footprint” is a simple term for a complex issue: the exploding pace of WiFi hotspot creation is not abating and soon a roamable, global alternative network will become our reality.

In a world seemingly saturated in WiFi, the notion of autoconnecting to these networks might seem appealing. However, whether using a laptop or mobile device, security threats remain a constant.

Are Phone Calls Over WiFi Hotspots Safe from Hackers?

You might have heard that the new iPhone 6 supports making phone calls over WiFi networks. Using WiFi networks to make calls is the next big thing for mobile phones.

But how safe is it to make phone calls using public WiFi hotspots? Are your calls being encrypted? And should you take any steps to protect yourself from WiFi hackers? Read on to find out more.

Android Apps Susceptible to Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

With a man-in-the-middle attack, your app thinks it is communicating with the app’s web server, but in fact, all of your personal information is being sent directly to the hacker’s computer. Keep reading for details on the two kinds of SSL vulnerabilities that FireEye found in some of the most popular Android apps — and how to protect yourself today.

Should You Use ‘Free’ WiFi Networks at Sporting Events?

In this day and age this is the stadium WiFi is the new standard. Because what fun is it to be at a sporting event if you can’t post pictures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram?

But what you are giving up in exchange for access to so-called “free” WiFi? And who has access to your data as a result of being online at sporting events?

Mobile Threats: What You Need to Know About Mobile Payment Risks and Responsibilities

As we continue to rely on the precarious mix of mobile banking & payments, mobile apps, and public WiFi hotspots, it’s perhaps not such a surprise that online bank fraud is escalating. Quite a bit of this fraud is perpetrated by malicious apps that users inadvertently download on their mobile devices. App developers with malicious intent have become quite adept at concealing the surreptitious nature of these apps.

WiFi to Get Faster and Overtake Wired Traffic by 2018

The next generation of WiFi technology will be able to transmit over 7 Gbps (gigabytes per second) data speed, and by 2018, worldwide WiFi traffic will overtake wired traffic for the first time ever.

This means that as fast as things move now in the digital world, they will begin to move even faster.

Wireless Safety Tips for Travelers from PRIVATE WiFi and STOP.THINK.CONNECT.: [INFOGRAPHIC]

Warning: There is an invisible safety threat that you will encounter on your next vacation. No matter where you are going or when, you will likely encounter WiFi on your journey. While the convenience of such a connection is alluring to any vacationer, understanding the dangers associated with using that wireless hotspot are paramount and it is up to you to protect yourself.

In Unanimous Opinion, SCOTUS Defends Cell Phone Privacy

In a landmark decision for digital privacy, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously decided that warrantless searches of cell phones are not permitted by the Fourth Amendment. The Court looked at two cases to see if the warrantless searches of the defendants’ cell phones were reasonable and allowed under the Fourth Amendment. The Court ruled that they were not reasonable, but allowed for exemptions in emergency situations, such as preventing a terrorist act.

Don’t Be Evil: San Francisco Artist Spoofs Google’s Free WiFi

A San Francisco media artist named Harris David Harris has created a fake public WiFi network that looked very much like the free one that Google offers to its employees who take private shuttles to and from work in Silicon Valley. His “d0ntb33vil” project — which mimics Google’s motto — also serves as his MFA thesis project in the Digital Arts and New Media program at UC Santa Cruz.

Instead of getting Internet access, Google employees saw an image of the sidewalk in front of them.