Early Times Report
Jammu, October 19: It takes a few seconds to tap “connect” on a free Wi-Fi network at a railway station, café, mall or airport. The Jammu and Kashmir Police is warning that those few seconds can be enough to hand cybercriminals a way into your digital life.
In a public advisory, the police cautioned that the moment a user connects to an unsecured public Wi-Fi network, cybercriminals may get an opportunity to target personal information. Emails, social media accounts, banking details and even One-Time Passwords (OTPs), the last line of defence in most online transactions, could all be at risk.
Unsecured networks usually lack the encryption and authentication that protect a private connection. Cyber security experts have long pointed out that this can let attackers monitor traffic, set up fake hotspots with convincing names, or redirect users to spoof websites designed to harvest passwords and card details. A single compromised login can open the door to linked accounts, from email to banking to social media.
“Avoid carrying out banking, UPI or shopping transactions on public Wi-Fi”, experts said, adding, “Do not log in to sensitive accounts such as email or social media over open networks”
“Use mobile data or a trusted private network for financial activity”, experts cautioned, adding, “Turn off automatic Wi-Fi connection on your phone. Keep devices and apps updated, and enable two-factor authentication wherever possible. Never share an OTP with anyone, regardless of who is asking”. |
