Question

______ WiFi hotspot operates close to a legitimate free WiFi hotspot and typically provide stronger signals that many users unsuspectingly connect to. Once a user is connected, it steals information such as username and password sent by the user to legitimate sites.

Answer 1

An evil twin hotspot is a malicious WiFi hotspot designed to mimic legitimate ones, aimed at stealing user information. It can intercept sensitive data when unsuspecting users connect to it. Such cyber threats exploit the WiFi technology used for wireless internet connections.

Step-by-step explanation:

The WiFi hotspot being referred to in the student's question is known as an evil twin hotspot. This is a rogue WiFi hotspot that masquerades as a legitimate free WiFi service, often positioned near legitimate hotspots to trick users into connecting. Once a user connects to an evil twin hotspot, the operator can potentially intercept sensitive information such as usernames and passwords. The tactics used by evil twin hotspots are part of a broader set of malicious activities employed by hackers to gain unauthorized access to data and systems. While WiFi technology, operating in the 2.4 GHz to 5.0 GHz range, has revolutionized our ability to connect to the internet wirelessly using microwaves, it has also opened up avenues for cyber threats like evil twin hotspots. In some cases, with the appropriate software, devices can be taken over to eavesdrop on their microphones and cameras, posing a significant privacy risk.