Wi-Fi Hacking Protection.

Fixxx · Apr 26, 2024

Wi-Fi networks have become so ingrained in our lives that many users perceive them as something as essential as electricity from an outlet. They can be found everywhere: in private homes, cafes, shopping centers, offices, public transport and even outdoors, turning your phone into a hotspot. However, few realize that Wi-Fi can be a vulnerable point through which cybercriminals can gain access to your devices.

In the case of home Wi-Fi malicious actors may be interested in accessing personal data such as passwords, bank accounts or personal information. Additionally, hackers can use a compromised home Wi-Fi for unlawful activities online such as downloading pirated content or conducting cyberattacks on other computers. Regarding business Wi-Fi networks, cybercriminals may seek access to a company's confidential information such as accounting data, client information or trade secrets, as well as disrupt business operations. This can lead to serious consequences including data breaches, financial losses or damage to the company's reputation.

Cybersecurity experts have explained how Wi-Fi hacking occurs and how to protect networks from intrusions.

How Wi-Fi Hacking Happens?

There are cases where a neighbor in your building or office simply doesn't want to pay for their internet and tries to use someone else's. Their goal is not to cause harm so they only need to know the router's password. Typically, they use programs or applications for Wi-Fi hacking. It should be noted that gaining unauthorized access to someone else's network is illegal so these programs are legally used only for testing one's own network. Wi-Fi hacking software uses full password guessing, also known as a brute-force attack. The program tries all possible combinations of numbers and letters to guess the correct order. The more complex the password - the longer it takes to crack.

Nowadays, Wi-Fi hacking has significantly diminished in relevance with one of the few cases being gaining access to a network for further compromise. It's worth mentioning "neighborly" hacking where your neighbor uses your internet for free. Earlier Wi-Fi hacks were more about intercepting traffic possibly altering internet page content and so on. Today such attacks for the most part have declined due to the widespread adoption of session encryption. A prime example is HTTPS. For instance, if your website lacks an SSL certificate Google will rank it lower in its search results. Or if a browser detects any irregularities with the certificate verifying integrity it will promptly notify you and prevent opening the webpage's content. Your router holds much greater value for cybercriminals today than your Wi-Fi network.

In apartments, all smart devices, tablets, computers and smartphones are typically connected to the router. All home network traffic passes through the router. Therefore, gaining access to it opens up many opportunities for cybercriminals. For example, a hacker could not only steal your data, spy on you and eavesdrop but also use your devices to launch DDoS attacks on websites or engage in covert cryptocurrency mining.

When it comes to Wi-Fi hacking in private apartments it's often done for fun. Because it's often quite easy to do, curious individuals after watching a YouTube video or reading an article online, attempt to attack someone's Wi-Fi. However, the impact of such mischief is limited - at most they can access a neighbor's Wi-Fi. I believe it's more interesting to discuss hacking the wireless network of a company. Here the intentions of cybercriminals are not always serious. I rarely hear of data breaches occurring through Wi-Fi hacking. In most cases, hackers target what is easier to compromise remotely. Only very determined cybercriminals would specifically visit a company's offices. As of now, we don't see frequent company breaches through Wi-Fi.

If the password cannot be cracked cybercriminals may attack the network using security protocol vulnerabilities. For instance, not long ago hackers used Key Reinstallation Attacks (KRACK) to exploit a vulnerability in the WPA-2 network security technology. In 2024 two vulnerabilities were discovered: in the Wpa_supplicant software and in the iNet Wireless Daemon (IWD).

There is a difference between business routers and home routers often not in favor of security. Among the numerous wireless networks it's easy to spot a corporate access point by its name. For example, Cisco - which wouldn't be used at home. Most attacks that target home routers are applicable to corporate devices as well. However, corporate access points have their characteristic vulnerabilities such as capturing PMKID and issues with WPA Enterprise (a mode meant to provide enterprise-level security). This is due to the complexity of settings for corporate routers. A typical physical perimeter doesn't consist of just one or two corporate Wi-Fi networks (Corp and Corp-Guest). Wireless networks comprise numerous different service networks where routers from home vendors with all their vulnerabilities might be encountered. For example, printers often have their wireless networks. Additionally, users themselves can share Wi-Fi from their phones which can be a potential entry point into the company's IT infrastructure. Wireless networks are not limited to Wi-Fi alone. Wireless mice, keyboards - often they are not secure and access to user's computers can be gained through them.

One way to access a user's device is to create a fake access point.

User devices store data of previously known Wi-Fi networks for convenience in reconnecting to them. This convenience has a downside - the device becomes vulnerable to attacks with SSID spoofing. The main danger is that the device will likely send data through the fake point to applications that usually transmit data through legitimate Wi-Fi connections, making this information available to the cybercriminal. The further development of the attack after establishing a connection to the fake access point on your device depends on the vulnerabilities of the device itself and its software. Access to a network can also be gained using social engineering tactics.

How to Identify If a Network Has Been Hacked?

In the case of a home router it's usually not difficult to detect if someone has connected to your Wi-Fi. You'll likely notice a decrease in speed - websites and videos will load slower. To find an uninvited guest simply access the router settings and check the list of connected devices. Typically, the number of devices in a home network does not exceed 15-20, so finding the "newcomer" should be straightforward.

Regularly monitoring network activity can help identify unusual activity indicating potential network interference.
Installing and configuring intrusion detection systems helps detect potential attacks.

The situation is different in corporate networks where dozens of devices can use a single router and an additional connection doesn't lead to a critical speed drop. But there are several signs that may indicate the presence of an intruder in the network.

The first thing that may indicate the presence of hackers in corporate Wi-Fi is newly installed programs that employees are not related to. Also pay attention to unusual network activity. If some devices start transmitting more data than usual it could be a sign of a cyber intrusion. Furthermore, a device may start operating without your involvement and, for example, send spam emails on behalf of the company. Pay attention to unusual requests to accounts or confidential information. If you notice unauthorized login attempts someone is likely trying to gain access to data. Remember: any changes to network security settings or software without coordination with your IT team may serve as a sign of a breach.

When suspicious activity is already noticed cybersecurity specialists need to promptly detect unauthorized connections. However, it's better to use methods that help prevent attacks or identify them at the very beginning. Detecting intruders in a corporate network requires a comprehensive approach including the use of various technologies, tools and monitoring methods such as:

Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) - deep analysis systems of traffic and telemetry to detect attacks within the network.
Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) - detecting targeted attacks on endpoints and responding to them.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) - collecting and correlating security events, analyzing security events in real-time, coming from network devices, IT services, system infrastructure, applications and other assets.
Security Awareness - automated systems to enhance user awareness in information security.

Users with basic cybersecurity skills pay much closer attention to possible anomalies indicating the presence of an intruder and can promptly inform the security officer. However, even when following all security rules and constant monitoring it's important to remember that besides digital protection physical security measures are also necessary to prevent breaches.

Today an interesting situation is emerging where the external perimeter in the Internet network is well protected - with a network firewall, WAF, IDS/IPS and these resources are monitored by a SOC. However, the external physical perimeter in the real, non-digital world is almost unprotected, except for video surveillance and access control systems (ACS). Wireless intrusion detection systems are extremely uncommon. Therefore, almost all wireless attacks are considered invisible since there are very few solutions on the market that enable this.

How to protect against Wi-Fi hacking?

One of the security factors of a network is the router. Routers for home and corporate use differ in price, level of security and complexity of maintenance. Cybersecurity specialists recommend choosing solutions based on your needs and capabilities.

From a cybersecurity perspective, routers for the corporate segment are certainly more secure. They have various additional security features, such as direct event outputs to SIEM or more frequent security updates. Cisco, for example, sets the standards in this area and having certifications for this equipment ensures job opportunities. However, working with such devices requires expertise and understanding of network devices beyond what an average wireless internet user needs. For home use it's better to purchase devices specifically adapted by manufacturers. For the average user the vendor and a whole team of specialists have already configured and taken care of the main issues in user lineups. They exist to provide the necessary compromise for quick and secure network access to ordinary users.

To ensure the security of a home router from hacking, follow a few simple recommendations:

Change the default password to a complex one.
Change the device name to avoid revealing the router model.
Disable network detection.
Enable connection filtering on the router to allow only known devices to connect.

Both home and corporate routers can become vulnerable if improperly configured. The setup process for corporate and home Wi-Fi networks may differ slightly but the key is to have proper configurations in skilled hands. When it comes to choosing the right router it's advisable to turn to best-practice router manufacturers - those that have been tried and tested over the years. It's not wise to trust newcomers in the market. There is a possibility of placing a Wi-Fi interception module in seemingly harmless devices. This means that users may unknowingly purchase a device that potentially poses a threat and there could be many such devices.

More advanced technologies are used for business cybersecurity and it's recommended to use routers designed for corporate networks. To protect corporate networks from hacking it's necessary not only to ensure a comprehensive set of security measures but also to maintain it regularly. One of the key security factors in business networks is the correct and careful customization of parameters to suit the specific needs.

To minimize the likelihood of hacking recommended:

Change the default account credentials (username and password). Use complex passwords.
Configure administrative access control using Access Control Lists (ACL) only from specific IP addresses of administrators.
Regularly update the router's firmware to reduce vulnerabilities.
Disable unnecessary router services and ports, such as Telnet and SNMP (if not required) to reduce the attack surface.
Enable authentication on all protocols that allow it, such as routing protocols or SNMP.
If a dedicated firewall is not available use the router's built-in security services (Firewall, IPS) if available.
If AAA is used in the corporate network, configure authentication and authorization mechanisms, such as TACACS+ or RADIUS for centralized user access management and monitoring of their actions.
If SIEM is used in the corporate network configure the router to send event logs for analysis and correlation.

It's important to remember that a comprehensive security system is necessary to ensure full protection of the corporate network which will help prevent attacks across the maximum possible number of vectors.

Conclusion

Hacking Wi-Fi networks has lost its "popularity" among cybercriminals. However, the router remains one of the vulnerable points in your system putting all connected devices at risk. One of the main goals of hackers when hacking a corporate Wi-Fi network is to gain access to valuable confidential information of the organization. Often hackers seek to obtain personal data of staff or information about the company's financial statements. Over 40% of employees when connecting to the network risk their cybersecurity daily. However, only 57% of them are concerned that their data may be intercepted during a Wi-Fi session. Furthermore, hacking a corporate Wi-Fi network can allow cybercriminals to launch a cyber-attack on the company's network or steal important data for subsequent blackmail and extortion. Therefore, protecting the corporate network from hackers is one of the main priorities for companies to prevent information leakage and significant financial losses. To protect against hacking it's necessary to use a device that suits your needs, pay attention to suspicious activity and add a comprehensive security measures.

Wi-Fi Hacking Protection.

Fixxx