First of all, it’s essential to understand what ‘hack’ means. When we say “hacker takeover” of a network, we’re referring to a vulnerability in the WPS protocol that allows an attacker to recover the username and password for the wifi network. This has nothing to do with hacking into another person’s computer or accessing data – there is no actual takeover involved here. The only thing stolen/taken over is control of the wireless connection.
Hackers can hack your Wi-Fi, and most Wi-Fi networks can be accessed easily. They may do so both in order to enjoy the internet benefits of the network and to spy on the people using it. However, a Wi-Fi network can be secured relatively easily and quickly by even an amateur technologist.
If you were lucky enough (and had not turned off WPS) to be using a router with good security built-in (like those from Linksys), then this attack may not work against your particular router…but likely will work on many other brands. Network admins with access to Cisco equipment could turn off WPS altogether, but it was not so simple for the average user.
The hacker’s goal is to connect to your wireless network without actually knowing (or guessing) your 8-digit wifi key. To do that, the hacker needs a way into your network first and foremost – which usually means finding a weakness in the way you are using wifi authentication or by taking advantage of poor security practices on behalf of the wireless network owner.
How do you know if your wifi is being hacked?
Whether you’re connected through WiFI or Ethernet cable, here are some ways that could help you detect if someone is hacking your internet connection:
Strange devices in your network list: If suddenly unknown devices show up in the network list (e.g., “DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS”) or appear from time to time, this may be a sign that someone is trying to get into your system.
Strange IP addresses: An excellent way to discover who has access to your network is the IP address list. Hackers will often use software that enables them to change their own devices’ Internet Protocol (IP) address, so you won’t see them anymore every time you log in and check the device list. However, sometimes hackers don’t bother changing their IP address when they connect, and it will remain unchanged for a while.
Wifi not working correctly: Are you having troubles connecting through wifi? Do you think that maybe a hacker is jamming your connection? You can use a network analyzer tool to check if some active devices are on the same channel as yours.
Devices using your IP address: If you discover that unknown devices are connected to your wifi or Ethernet, there could be several reasons why this happened: malware, unauthorized access, etc. But, if you see that all these mysterious devices have one thing in common (e.g., they all use the same IP addresses), it may be possible that someone hacked into your system and gained access through other ports or applications (e.g., SSH).
Your smartphone stops working from time to time: This may seem like a silly tip, but it has helped many people in the past. When they noticed their smartphone stopped working every time they try to repair something at home, they knew right away that someone had hacked into their Ethernet connection.
Can someone hack your phone through wifi?
Yes, anyone can hack your phone through wifi!
Your smartphone is never 100% safe and secure, no matter what the mainstream media might have you believe. Most of you probably know that hackers can gain complete control over your device via its default storage method: the SD card. Yes, an attacker can easily use a Card reader or connect your phone directly to their computer to grab files from it using any file manager app on the Android Play Store. Yet another way is to use a wireless attack where attackers send malicious code via wifi. They could be near you right now!
As demonstrated by researchers, wifi attacks work against smartphones and tablets, and computers alike (Windows users should change their passwords immediately). Be careful if someone comes close to you with a laptop or tablet.
Scenario 1: A jealous person wants access!
But how exactly could an attacker hack your phone through wifi? Since there is no financial gain involved here for the hacker, is it worth it for him/her to go through all that trouble just to steal a few files from your smartphone? Who would do such a thing anyway, and why? Let’s take a look at some common scenarios:
If you are dating someone new and your old love is jealous, then there’s a chance that she or he might try to hack into your smartphone to find out more about your relationship. So, next time when you’re sitting at the park with this person, make sure you know who could be lurking around nearby!
Scenario 2: A curious person wants access!
This can happen if an attacker decides to spy on you. We’ve already shown how easy it is to spy on citizens using over-the-air surveillance; here’s another article about wifi sniffing. Imagine being able to read everything someone types/touches on his/her device as long as they stay nearby? How exciting! It almost sounds like a James Bond movie scene, but it’s actual and technically possible.
Scenario 3: A suspicious person wants access!
Now, this is the terrifying case of them all. You’re walking around your neighborhood or driving your car through some random street in a nearby city when suddenly you spot a guy who keeps looking at you from head to toe, trying to figure out what type of phone you have, whether it’s carrying any valuable data with it or not (yes, he knows that you have an SD card). Next thing you know, someone starts following right behind you so he can read everything on your screen without even being near to your device! How convenient!
But don’t worry yet as there are common sense things you can do to stay safe and prevent your smartphone from getting hacked through wifi.
First of all, it’s always a good idea to have some kind of anti-malware or antivirus app on your phone that will constantly monitor the device for any suspicious activities (both at SD level and when the phone is connected to wifi). Second, try hiding your data in places where other people won’t be able to reach them. For example, if you want to hide photos from being accessed, don’t mindlessly store them all on your SD card!
Put only some crucial files there, keep everything else on the internal storage and secure it with a password. Don’t forget that this includes pictures taken by your phone’s camera as well. Last but not least, make sure that your device has the latest security patch installed so any potential wifi attacks would be easily recognized by Android and therefore blocked.
Can a router be hacked?
Router hacking is common in the cyber world. Like any other computer network, routers can also get infected with viruses and malware that allow hackers to spy on you. Some of these malicious codes target routers’ software, while others target devices connected to the network through it, like your smartphone or laptop. Router hacking is not very difficult as compared to mobile or desktop device hacking because of two reasons:
Many home users prefer sharing their data over public networks and hence become easy prey for cybercriminals.
An Internet routing protocol called HEN (Hypertext Network) is responsible for sharing internet sources among personal computers and internet-enabled devices on a local area network (LAN). Any person with basic knowledge of networking can easily access connected devices using simple programs like HEN.
Less secure default settings in routers and other home network devices make router hacking easy for experts. Router protocols are constantly under attack by hackers who take advantage of the weak firewall settings, protocol flaws, and other vulnerabilities to control your system. This is why it is crucial to protect your router from malware attacks with a proper firewall setting or antivirus software.
Update Firmware and Software:
It is not always possible that you will buy a brand new router, but even if you buy one, make sure you update its firmware and software regularly as vendors regularly release patches and fixes for security holes.
An Internet connection is required for installing updated software and firmware. You will have to disconnect the router from the network first before updating its internal software because otherwise, your system may be infected with malware due to a security hole. If you are unsure how to update either software or firmware, check the user manual provided with your device for instructions.
Protect Your Network:
You should always try to protect your network with strong passwords and keep changing them regularly as hackers use password-guessing programs to break into routers using common default login names. Here are few tips that will help you improve your router’s security: Use a VPN like ‘ExpressVPN’ (affordable trusted VPN) to encrypt your incoming and outgoing web traffic.
Antivirus software is the first line of defense against malware. It scans the entire system, including the router, for the presence of any malicious program or code and removes it from your system if found. You can choose a free antivirus like “Avast Free Antivirus” (best free antivirus) to scan and clean your network regularly.
Conclusion
Hacking a wifi network is usually done using some form of hacking software. The most common type of hacking software used for this purpose are packet sniffers, which allow hackers to see what internet traffic goes in and out of the router or computer they’re targeting. To protect your home wifi network from being hacked, you should change the default password that came with it when you set up your device so no one else can access it. You should also make sure not to store any sensitive information such as credit card numbers on public networks because if someone has access to those records, they have all the power over buying things online without permission!