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Question of the Week
Question: "At November's seminar, you talked about the Wi-Fi KRACK hack. Is there anything new regarding the problem?"
Answer: For those of you who were not at our seminar, here's a quick rundown on the Wi-Fi hack called KRACK:
Almost all Wi-Fi (wireless networks) use an encryption process called WPA2. For some time, it has been the most reliable method of keeping your computing device secure while online. This is the technology which causes you to have to put a password into your devices when you first get on a secure wireless network.
Unfortunately, a vulnerability was discovered which would allow a hacker to circumvent the encryption of WPA2 and hop onto your wireless network. This has become known as KRACK.
There are a number of pieces of good news regarding this issue: 1) A hacker has to be within range of your wireless network (Wi-Fi) or they can't break into it; 2) The patch to close the vulnerability is an easy fix; 3) Manufacturers of routers and computer Operating Systems (OSs) are responding rapidly to the issue.
So, what's new? Just that patches are happening rapidly and few computer Wi-Fi systems have been affected.
With this discovered vulnerability, like most others, there are important things you should be doing to keep your computing devices safe:
A) Keep your devices OSs up-to-date. Whether it's a Windows device, an Apple device, Android or some other, don't put off updating the OS.
B) Keep your anti-virus or anti-malware software current and updated, as well. (Yes, my fine Mac users - you need anti-malware just like Windows users.)
C) If you're going to be online in a vulnerable area (airports, popular coffee houses, etc.) use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). It will encrypt your Internet transactions so a hacker can't read them even if he or she intercepts them. (Use the VPN we use - find it by clicking the button below.)
Questions? Email us at info@4kcc.com.
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