Unseen Threats: How Viruses Exploit Vulnerabilities in Wi-Fi Networks

Under certain conditions, Wi-Fi networks become susceptible to exploitation by viruses and malware. This also compromises the security and privacy of all the devices connected to the device. Some ways in which viruses exploit vulnerabilities in Wi-Fi networks include:

Insecure Encryption Protocol

Wi-Fi security protocols such as WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) are old and susceptible to exploitation. Latest encryption protocols like WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) are more secure and effective at preventing unauthorized access.

Weak passwords

Wi-Fi networks with weak passwords can be easily cracked using various tools or guesswork. Ensure you use upper-case and lower-case letters as well as special symbols in your password to make it effective.

Stay updated

Your router can become vulnerable if the firmware or software hasn’t been updated and has known security flaws. Exploiters can use this weakness to gain control of the router or its connected devices.

Device updates

Sometimes the connected devices might themselves be vulnerable as their software hasn’t been updated with the latest security patches. Attackers or hackers can use this weakness to access the device and thereon the Wi-Fi network. Do ensure that your connected devices are not vulnerable to virus threats by keeping them updated too.

Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

These types of attacks usually happen when using a public Wi-Fi network. The attacker positions themselves between the intended victim and the Wi-Fi network, thus intercepting and eavesdropping on sensitive information such as login credentials. You could try using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for an added layer of security when using a public Wi-Fi network is unavoidable. You should also avoid using the public network when making sensitive transactions.

Rogue Network

Also known as Evil Twin Attack, the attacker creates a look-alike network with a name that’s similar to the legitimate one. Users who don’t check carefully can fall prey to such rogue networks and lose their sensitive data, as the attacker has free access to their network traffic.

Zero-Day exploits

As the name suggests, cyber attackers can use newly discovered vulnerabilities (just discovered) in connected devices or Wi-Fi protocols, even before the manufacturers get a chance to develop a patch.

Eavesdropping

In public Wi-Fi networks, weak encryption enables hackers to monitor sensitive information. Use a VPN!