WiFi

Check out which WiFi you connect to with your mobile device

WiFi networks are easily spoofed (a spoofing attack is a situation in which one person or program successfully masquerades as another by falsifying data).
See https://www.eff.org/pages/tor-and-https to see how a “hacker” (and others) can see what you are doing. See http://miami.cbslocal.com/2014/09/23/how-hackers-are-using-free-wi-fi-to-hack-your-phone/https://medium.com/matter/heres-why-public-wifi-is-a-public-health-hazard-dd5b8dcb55e6 for explanation of how phones can be hacked over WiFi.

First Aid WiFi Check

There are many different versions of the OS (Operating System) so this check will be generic i.e Android version/iOS version.

This check is carried out:

  • To see what permissions are set up i.e is the device set up to automatically connect to any WiFi it encounters?
  • To see which WiFi connections are stored on device
  • To think about issues around connecting to public WiFi i.e how can you trust it?

 

Android

  1.  Unlock device using pin/password. No password? Set one – what would happen if device gets lost or stolen?
  2. Go to settings > WiFi (switch on WiFi if not connected)
  3. In WiFi settings go to settings > Advanced & check permissions
  4. Keeping WiFi on during sleep can broadcast your locations, if you are worried about this switch it off https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/07/your-android-device-telling-world-where-youve-been
  5. Go back to WiFi list – examine networks to identify them. Pay particular attention to open (no password/security) networks. Do they connect automatically? Click on each network to see if it has security. Best practice is to click on “forget” for unnecessary or unknown networks.
  6. Turn off WiFi by default

 

IOS

  1.  Unlock device using pin/password. No password? Set one – what would happen if device gets lost or stolen?
  2. Go to settings > WiFi (switch on WiFi if not connected)
  3. In WiFi settings go to “Ask to Join Networks” and ensure that it is switched ON
  4. Go back to WiFi list – examine networks to identify them. Pay particular attention to open (no password/security) networks. Do they connect automatically? Click on each network to see if it has security. Best practice is to click on “forget” for unnecessary or unknown networks
  5. Turn off WiFi by default