Free Wi-Fi networks in hotels are dangerous, I've told you this before, but I'm taking advantage of a new report from a computer security company to bring the problem to your attention. More specifically, the FireEye company warns the world again that using free Wi-Fi networks in hotels can leave them without important data because they can be easily broken by hackers with the help of a new type of malware.
Free Wi-Fi networks in hotels in at least 7 European countries and other areas on the planet are infected with a malware called GAMEFISH. It seems to have been developed by a team of Russian hackers known as APT28, or Fancy Bear, breaking into the servers of the Democratic National Committee before the US presidential elections, so free Wi-Fi networks in hotels are "nothing".
Free Wi-Fi networks in hotels are infected with this malware only at the beginning, because then another software called Eternal Blue, formerly of the NSA, is used to take control of users' computers. From the moment the hotel's free Wi-Fi network is hacked with GAMEFISH, hackers can use EternalBlue to hack the computers connected to it in the hotel as well.
Free Wi-Fi networks in hotels are very dangerous
Free Wi-Fi networks in hacked hotels allow hackers to take any kind of data from hotel customers, all without them knowing what's happening. Hackers only have to leave the software on free Wi-Fi networks in hotels, and it will intercept any kind of traffic, and not only that, the hackers only have to analyze the data to see if there is really useful information that they can use.
free Wi-Fi networks in hotels cannot be secured by users, but using a VPN can save you from these problems. A VPN type network can secure the traffic made by users through free Wi-Fi networks in hotels, so that hackers will not be able to read the data that is transmitted unencrypted by us and their software becomes practically completely useless in this situation.
"FireEye has uncovered a malicious document sent in spear phishing emails to multiple companies in the hospitality industry, including hotels in at least seven European countries and one Middle Eastern country in early July. Successful execution of the macro within the malicious document results in the installation of APT28's signature GAMEFISH malware."
