When Using Free Wi-Fi, Change Your ID and Password
Beware of Phishing Texts Related to Holidays
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jung] Caution is required as personal information leakage due to hacking can occur when using free Wi-Fi at highway rest areas and drowsiness shelters.
According to AhnLab on the 21st, from this year, free Wi-Fi is provided at highway rest areas and drowsiness shelters nationwide. Free Wi-Fi can be hacked by a hacker who takes control of just one router, allowing them to hack all PCs and mobile devices connected to that router, so users must be especially careful.
AhnLab stated, "In fact, cases of Domain Name Server (DNS) manipulation and personal information leakage due to malware infection from free Wi-Fi are frequently occurring." When DNS is manipulated, even if users enter a normal address, they are connected to a hacker-created site or see a fake notification window. The hacking site is made to look very similar to the real site, deceiving users completely.
Therefore, AhnLab emphasized, "When using free Wi-Fi, it is essential to frequently change IDs and passwords for internet services such as portal sites and back up important information." Also, Android phone users should set the 'Install apps from unknown sources' option to 'Not allowed' to prevent unknown apps from being installed when clicking URL links.
To prevent financial damage from smishing crimes, it is recommended to reduce the small payment limit in advance through the telecom customer center and to download and update mobile antivirus apps. It is also important to carefully check all received text messages before opening them.
Especially during holidays, smartphone usage increases significantly due to transportation and accommodation reservations, travel information searches, gift exchanges, and greetings, making users vulnerable to hacker attacks. Hackers distribute malware through text messages and emails impersonating holiday-related content. Since smartphones contain sensitive personal information such as financial data, address books, and photos, extra attention to security is necessary.
The basic smartphone security rules suggested by AhnLab are ▲ carefully verifying the provider when using free Wi-Fi in public places and avoiding financial transactions on devices connected to such Wi-Fi ▲ refraining from opening or executing URL links in informational text messages or email attachments with unclear origins, such as travel, train tickets, airline tickets, parcels, and greetings ▲ installing mobile-specific antivirus apps like AhnLab V3 Mobile Security on smartphones.
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