Hotel Free WiFi Scams: Whenever we visit an expensive hotel, we often use its Wi-Fi. However, this free Wi-Fi can sometimes pose a significant threat to our personal data.

Hotel Free WiFi Hacking

Hotel Free WiFi Scams: If you too are fond of travelling and upon entering a hotel, the first thing you do is connect to the free Wi-Fi there, then this news can give you a big shock. Recently, Microsoft, one of the biggest companies in the tech world, has released a report. According to this report, hackers are now stealing people's personal data and bank account information through the free Wi-Fi of hotels and conference halls. Cyber ​​experts say that when people go to hotels for holidays, they connect to the free Wi-Fi without thinking in order to save mobile data. Hackers take advantage of this carelessness.

How does this trap work?

Microsoft's report calls this new cyberattack CaptiveCrunch (Storm-2945). Typically, when you connect to a hotel's Wi-Fi network, a page opens on your phone screen. On this page, you must enter your room number, name, or mobile number. This is technically known as a captive portal. Hackers have now begun hacking this very page. As soon as a traveler visits this page, they intercept their internet traffic.

A fake pop-up or message then appears on the screen, stating, "Your Google Chrome or Windows is pending an update. Please click here to update." As soon as a user clicks the update button, dangerous malware is downloaded onto their phone or laptop. Unbeknownst to the user, their entire device falls under hacker control.

What do hackers steal?

Once the virus enters your phone, hackers can monitor your every move. They can even access your net banking passwords, credit and debit card numbers, and even your UPI PIN. Furthermore, your Facebook, Instagram, and email passwords can be stolen. This virus can also give hackers access to your phone's private photos, videos, and important documents.

How to protect yourself from these hackers?

The safest way to avoid this is to avoid using the hotel's Wi-Fi altogether. Use your mobile internet. If using the hotel's Wi-Fi is absolutely necessary, download a good VPN app to your phone. Enabling a VPN completely secures and locks your data, preventing it from being read by hackers. Additionally, if you encounter an option to update any app, browser, or software while connected to Wi-Fi, cancel it immediately.