There are many security attacks that can put our computers at risk. There are many varieties of malware that in one way or another seek to steal information, passwords and, ultimately, affect performance. However, this increases when we talk about wireless networks. There may be certain vulnerabilities that are exploited by third parties and bugs that could expose our equipment. We are going to talk about what FragAttacks is and how we can prevent these Wi-Fi attacks. A series of recommendations to avoid security problems.
Protecting wireless networks is very important
Today it is very common to connect to the network through wireless networks . Wi-Fi has been improving little by little and offers a quality comparable to connecting by cable. This is something that a few years ago did not happen. In addition, we have more and more devices compatible with this technology.
All this makes it essential to adequately protect our networks. We must prevent the entry of intruders that may affect our connection , as well as reduce the impact that a brute force attack may have against our devices. It is therefore very important to maintain security.
But we must bear in mind that there can be many types of attacks that affect us. Some arrive due to vulnerabilities in our network and the devices we use. We may find that a hacker exploits a security flaw and has full access.
One of these vulnerabilities or problems that we can find is what is known as FragAttacks. It is something that could damage our devices and put the security of the wireless network at risk.
What is FragAttacks
FragAttacks is the name they gave to a series of attacks that can affect Wi-Fi devices . We can say that it affects the vast majority of devices that have this technology available. It can especially affect what is known as the Internet of Things, which is all home computers with access to the network.
A hypothetical hacker with access to our network , who is nearby, could exploit the flaw and inject code in plain text. It could control certain operating systems that are vulnerable and have not received updates.
If an attacker had access to the network, to the devices, he could control them. For example, you could access our television and have total control to see possible installed programs, initiated sessions, personal data …
We can say that millions of devices have been affected by these security flaws . It is not only about a specific vulnerability, but there are 12 that have been revealed. Each of these can be exploited in a different way and also put security at risk in a different way.
As soon as these vulnerabilities were detected, the manufacturers quickly got down to work trying to fix them. They released patches to correct the problem and allow users to use the computers normally, without compromising security at any time.
Prevent Wi-Fi Attacks by FragAttacks
We have seen what FragAttacks is and how it could put our devices at risk over Wi-Fi. It is very important to be protected and avoid being victims of this problem, as well as any other similar vulnerability that can affect our wireless networks. We are going to see some important tips to keep in mind.
Update all systems
A very important first point is to keep the systems correctly updated . We have seen that FragAttacks attacks are based on vulnerabilities in Wi-Fi enabled devices. We must therefore always have the latest versions, have all the patches installed and correct any errors that may appear.
This should not only be applied to the operating system itself, but also to the firmware of the network cards and router. This last device is very important to our day to day life and must be properly protected. Many users overlook the importance of adding the latest versions.
Beware of OS that does not receive updates
Are we using an old operating system ? That could be especially a problem. We are talking, for example, of Windows 7, which no longer receives security updates. Therefore, if vulnerabilities such as FragAttacks appear, it is more difficult to correct.
In these cases, when we are using an old OS, it is best to choose to upgrade to the higher version. It is convenient to avoid obsolete systems, which do not receive periodic updates and improvements. Otherwise we could have important problems that affect us in our day to day.
Use encrypted connections
When we browse the Internet, it is essential to do so through encrypted sites . Vulnerabilities like the ones we mentioned can take advantage of the use of an unencrypted HTTP website, which could lead to the leakage of information and that hackers have access to our data.
VPN to use public networks
An alternative in case we have to connect to public Wi-Fi networks, which may be insecure, is to use VPN services. It will encrypt our connection and allow us to browse safely. This way our data will be safe and there will be no leaks in case we run into intruders who can take advantage of their knowledge to attack us.
Protect the network
We must also mention the importance of adequately protecting our wireless network. We must always have a good password, not only to avoid FragAttacks attacks. That key must be unique, totally random and make it as difficult to find out as possible. It must contain letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers, and other symbols. In this way we can protect our Wi-Fi against possible intruders.
Always use security programs
In addition to everything mentioned, it is worth remembering the importance of using security programs . Having a good antivirus is very important. Also install a firewall and other tools that can help improve reliability when using networks and avoid being victims of very diverse attacks. Luckily we have a wide range of options. They are available for all types of operating systems.
Ultimately, by following these steps we can avoid FragAttacks vulnerabilities. Mainly the most important thing is to have everything updated. In this way we will correct problems that may be exploited by third parties.
