| What you don't know can hurt you. Next time | | | | hotspot, you can tell which network belongs |
| you connect to one of them, be very observant | | | | to you or not but not to the average user |
| you're connecting to a legitimate one and not | | | | because they aren't visible and it's very |
| an evil twin.What is an evil twin? | | | | easy to setup wifi hotspots. You and I can do |
| | | | it. There are no alerts and sadly, often the |
| They are fake Internet gateways posing as a | | | | people who work at these hotspots aren't |
| legitimate wifi hotspots. Supposing you visit | | | | knowledgeable enough to warn you either. The |
| the local Internet cafe who has a paid | | | | person sitting next to you whom you think is |
| hotspot. You boot up your notebook computer, | | | | doing work online could be operating an evil |
| your wifi connection software seeks out | | | | twin, or they could be one of those duped by |
| available networks and gives you an option of | | | | one.What do you do? |
| two (maybe more) networks you can get online | | | | |
| with. One of them is from the Internet cafe, | | | | In an ideal world, don't connect to wifi |
| but wait. You see one that says "Free Wifi | | | | hotspots networks or don't get on a public |
| courtesy of Wifi Hotspots Nation" or | | | | wifi at all. If you absolutely must get an |
| whatever. Everyone loves a deal, who do you | | | | Internet fix, don't conduct online |
| get on with? If you chose the one from Wifi | | | | transactions like buying stuff, logging into |
| Hotspots Nation, then you may have connected | | | | your online bank or any place you'd be asked |
| to the Internet on the Evil Twin's network. | | | | for sensitive information.Next, disable all |
| Note Wifi Hotspots Nation is a fictitious | | | | kinds of file or print sharing. If using |
| name I created but that is the irony. An evil | | | | WindowsXP operating system, go to Start, |
| twin usually operates using a fictitious or | | | | Control Panel and then Network Connections. |
| deceptive name that's always changing. Since | | | | Right click on the Internet connection or the |
| there is no authority governing the names of | | | | Network connection and select Properties. In |
| wifi hotspots, there is nowhere you go to | | | | the General tab, locate and uncheck File and |
| check up on their legitimacy.Wifi hotspots | | | | Printer Sharing. Click apply.If you set up |
| networks are like doors. In one place | | | | your notebook computer to connect |
| (hotspot) you can have many doors. Through | | | | automatically whenever a network is found, |
| one door, you can enter a solid brick room | | | | you'd want to disable that or change it to |
| and do what you like since no one is watching | | | | manual connection.Make sure your firewall is |
| you. Through another, you enter into a room | | | | turned on and any antivirus software is up to |
| with a two-way mirror where someone is | | | | date.As a good practice, if you have any |
| watching and recording your activity quietly | | | | sensitive files or information on your |
| without you knowing. Both doors are marked in | | | | computer, consider putting them into one or |
| a way you think you're going to the same | | | | several dedicated folders and then securing |
| place but in reality you're not. One of them | | | | those folders by making them private. In |
| is really an evil twin; A wolf in sheep's | | | | WindowsXP, select the folder in question, |
| clothing.Enough about doors and sheep, what | | | | right click on it and select properties. In |
| does this mean to you? I think you're smart | | | | the sharing tab, locate and check "Make this |
| enough to figure it out by now. By connecting | | | | folder private".These suggestions aren't fool |
| to the evil twin, it's easy for the people | | | | proof but can help put stumbling blocks in an |
| running it to capture any information you're | | | | offender's path. The best protection is still |
| entering onto websites or even snoop around | | | | being knowlegeable about wifi hotspots |
| in your computer and private files. And while | | | | networks and not to connect to a suspicious |
| they're there, why not drop some kind of | | | | network. And if you're in doubt, don't |
| malicious software that'll run in the | | | | connect at all.Sidenote: Similarly, if your |
| background you'll never even know was there. | | | | neighbour offers their wifi network for you |
| Who knows that they do.Aren't these fake wifi | | | | to use, make sure this is someone whom you |
| hotspots easy to detect? | | | | trust.Lynn Chan simplifies computing and |
| | | | computer care issues for new notebook |
| If you're the owner of the legitimate wifi | | | | computer owners. |