LONDON, England -- "Evil twins" are the latest menace to threaten the
security of Internet users, experts in the UK are warning.
An "evil twin" is a bogus base station that latches on to someone using new
"Wi-Fi" wireless technology.
Victims think their laptops or mobile phones are connected to bona fide
wireless internet connections.
They may then transmit valuable bank details or other personal information,
not suspecting that they are being intercepted by cybercriminals.
Professor Brian Collins, from the Royal Military College of Science,
Cranfield University, a former chief scientist at GCHQ -- the Government's
secret eavesdropping station -- said: "Users need to be wary of not using
their Wi-Fi enabled laptops or other portable devices in order to conduct
financial transactions or anything that is of a sensitive personal nature,
for fear of having disclosed this information to an unauthorised third
party."
Wireless devices link to the Internet via "hotspots" - nearby connection
points that they lock on to. But these hotspots can act like an open door to
thieves.
Anyone with suitable equipment can locate a hotspot and take its place,
substituting their own "evil twin."
Dr. Phil Nobles, a wireless Internet and cybercrime expert at Cranfield
University, said: "So-called 'evil twin' hotspots present a hidden danger
for Web users.
"In essence, users think they've logged on to a wireless hotspot connection
when in fact they've been tricked to connect to the attacker's unauthorised
base station.
"The latter jams the connection to a legitimate base station by sending a
stronger signal within close proximity to the wireless client -- thereby
turning itself into an 'evil twin.'
"Cybercriminals don't have to be that clever to carry out such an attack.
Because wireless networks are based on radio signals they can be easily
detected by unauthorised users tuning into the same channel hopping group.
Unwitting web users are invited to log into the attacker's server with bogus
login prompts, tempting them to give away sensitive information such as user
names and passwords.
Often users are unaware the have been duped until well after the incident
has occurred.
Dr. Nobles spelled out the warning at a wireless crime event held at the
Dana Centre, the Science Museum's forum for discussing controversial
science, in London.
Lisa Jamieson, Head of Programmes at the Dana Centre, said: "Half of all
business wireless networks in this country have inadequate security controls
in place, making their information vulnerable to attack."
---
