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