Wifi Hacking Proves Online Shopping Is Safer Than Real Shopping
If you prefer to use your credit or debit card in the real solid world for your shopping instead of going online, listen up - you may be more in danger of identity theft than if you shopped online or carried cash. This is because of the rise in wifi hacking, where online criminals can get a hold of your personal data transmitted over wifi (wirelss fidelity) networks. This is the finding of Aviva Litan, global information technology expert and vice-president of Gartner, Inc. He released his findings in June of 2007.
Online shopping is safer because online shopping websites expect that sooner or later, a hacker is going to try to get personal data about their customers. But POS (Point Of Sale) card swiping machines, especially at gas stations, are not protected from wifi hacking. Litan said that only about 30% of POS card swipe machines are safe from a data breach. Retailers and shoppers need to be aware that an awful amount of your personal data is stored on your credit card's magnetic stripe. It's that information a hacker wants and gets through wifi hacking.
Real World Weak Link
Stores in the real world rely heavily on computer networks, where a customer's personal data races back and forth like rush hour traffic. Many businesses use the Internet to transmit this information. However, more and businesses are attracted to the low cost and convenience of using wireless networks, which beam information out in the air like radio waves. Anyone with a working "radio" (in this case, a computer) can listen in. This has lead to the rise of wifi hacking.
Companies that use wireless networks also use Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), which encrypts ay personal data before it is transmitted, so anyone wifi hacking would only see gobbledygook. However, Latin thinks this is a weak and easily decoded encryption device. Real world businesses have to do better to protect their employees and customer's data from wifi hacking.
What If You Need To Get Gas?
Until businesses and especially gas stations can get their security act together, Latin advises to either shop online…or use cash. As they say, what's old is new again. And do not let anyone know your passwords or user names. Never send any personal information over email or instant messaging. Personal information that wifi hackers want includes your Social Security number, bank account number, passport number and driver's license number.
