In the age of digitization, the smartphone has become our individual command center – we pay bills with it, we store and manage finances. The comfort offered by banking applications is invaluable, but there are serious risks that many users do not know about. Cybersecurity experts are beating the alarm over 1 seemingly harmless feature that most of us have on the telephone by default. Talk about automatic connection to open Wi-Fi networks. This convenience may prove to be a gateway through which hackers will easy enter your bank account and empty it from their savings. In 2025, erstwhile our dependence on mobile technologies is greater than ever, awareness of this hazard is absolutely crucial.
What's the threat? Man-in-the-Middle attack in practice
Imagine sitting in your favourite cafe, airport or buying mall. Your phone, in search of mobile data savings, automatically connects to a network called "Galleria_Free_WiFi". But you don't know that this network was created by a hacker sitting a fewer tables away. It's a classical example of a kind attack. "Evil Twin" (Bad Twin)which is an introduction to a much more dangerous scenario.
When your telephone connects to a fake hotspot, all online traffic passes through a criminal device. There's an attack at this point. Man-in-the-Middle (MITM), meaning “the man in the middle”. The hacker becomes the invisible middleman between you and the internet. erstwhile you log into a banking application, you enter your login and password and then confirm the transaction, all of this data is captured in real time. A criminal can see them in pure text, even if your application uses basic safety features. That way, unconsciously, you give him the keys to your finances.
Why is public Wi-Fi so dangerous to your finances?
Public Wi-Fi networks, by definition, are unprotected or poorly secured. They were designed for easy access, not data protection. utilizing them to handle electronic banking is like leaving an open safe in the mediate of a busy square. Threats are not limited to stealing login data.
A hacker connected to the same network may:
- Capture individual data: Your name, PESEL number or address that can be utilized for identity theft.
- Monitor transaction history: Get information about your financial habits, which will make it easier for him to carry out more advanced sociotechnical attacks.
- Replace the bank page: Reroute you to a fake login page that looks identical to the real 1 to extort the data.
- Infect the device with malware: Inject a virus or spy program on your phone, which will work in the background, stealing data long after disconnecting from the network.
Remember that the hazard is not only for open networks. Even the password-protected ones, like hotels or restaurants, are not full safe due to the fact that all users usage the same shared connection.
How can you identify a fake network and defend your money? applicable advice
Fortunately, protection against these types of attacks is not complicated and requires only a fewer changes in habits and settings on the phone. Your financial safety is in your hands. Here's what you should do right now to minimize the risk:
1. Disable automatic connection to Wi-Fi: This is the most crucial step. Enter the Wi-Fi settings on your telephone (both Android and iOS) and deactivate the option to automatically connect to known or open networks. Always connect with public networks manually and consciously.
2. usage mobile data for banking: Always usage your own data transfer (LTE/5G) to log in to the bank and execute transactions. The mobile connection is encrypted and much safer than any public Wi-Fi network.
3. Invest in VPN service: If you request to usage public Wi-Fi, usage the app VPN (Virtual Private Network). It creates an encrypted “tunnel” for your net traffic, preventing people from reading it, including hackers.
4. Be vigilant on network names: Pay attention to hotspot names. Hackers frequently make networks with names very akin to those of the authoritative ones, e.g. "Airport_Chopin_FreeWiFi" alternatively of "Chopin_Airport_WiFi". If in doubt, ask the staff for the correct name of the network.
The banks are putting in security, but you're the first line of defense
Financial institutions are constantly working to improve the safety of their systems. They introduce advanced mechanisms specified as two-component authentication (2FA), biometric logging (fingerprint, facial scan) or notifications of each transaction. These tools importantly increase the level of protection, but are incapable to offset the risks arising from user carelessness.
Remember, even the bank's best safety won't aid if you give the hacker your log-in data on the tray. Your awareness and liable habits are the most crucial link in the safety chain. Technology is only a tool – it is up to you how it will be used.
Don't let a minute of indifference and chasing free net cost you the failure of hard-earned money. Check your telephone settings present and take full control of your digital security. It's a simple thing that could turn out to be your best financial investment in 2025.
Continued here:
Do you have that on your phone? Never log on to the bank like that! Experts alert
