They say nothings ever really free and with this Firesheep software, you shouldn't feel "free" to use WiFi without protecting yourself.
How does Firesheep work
Basically anyone can get Firesheep as a Firefox extension and click on "capture" to see everything happening in a space there in like Facebook for example. Make It Happen Mondays YouTube video series explains that Firesheep users can double click on your name and log in as you. Is this for real According to Culligan, "bad, bad things can happen." Someone hacking into your Facebook or Twitter could be really embarrassing but on other networks the damage could go beyond red in the face and put your accounts in the red.
There may be a bit more to it than that but we've learned just how much more hackers can easily do. It's estimated that it would take even novice scammers only about 30 minutes to use Firesheep to hack into your accounts while you're filling your Amazon shopping cart online at the library or facebooking from the hotel.
What is the point of Firesheep
Firesheep is supposed to show WiFi users just how easy it is for hackers to steal to steal your personal log ins and information over any open wireless network. Of course, thieves often use these "teaching tools" to "school" the rest of us.
Can we protect ourselves on public WiFi or should we never use it
Firesheep makes the free wireless skeptics even more skittish and rightly so. There could certainly be plenty of hungry wolves out there fashioning Firesheep cloaks. After all, Facebook has in particular doesn't have a great track record of protecting her lambs. Still, if you need wireless and you need free wireless right now, there are still some measures you can take to protect yourself.
Tips for protecting yourself when using free WiFi:
Consider using a purchasing and using software program that can block access in free Wi-Fi settings.
Try to avoid accounts that require (and could potentially expose) a password.
If you do use an account that requires a password, turn around and change it fast and frequently.
Free Wi-Fi is considered by many to be essential so they can keep up with all they have to do and say and hopefully it is here to stay. But more importantly, it should be secure and services like Firesheep can show us where the "wolves in sheep's clothing" may be hiding.
Post je objavljen 29.03.2012. u 12:41 sati.