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[Corp Blog] What is an evil twin attack, and should they worry you? Alternate title: should you use VPN when connecting to the public WIFI? (protonvpn.com)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Comment:

I thought this article gives a balanced view if we should VPN with a public Wifi network, instead of the normal VPN vendor selling fears.

Summary:

Evil Twin Attacks - Not a major threat anymore

What is it?

Evil twin attacks involve hackers setting up fake Wi-Fi networks that mimic legitimate ones in public places. Once connected, attackers can spy on your data.

Why was it scary?

Before 2015, most online connections weren't encrypted, making your data vulnerable on such networks.

Why isn't it a major threat anymore?

HTTPS encryption: Most websites (85%) now use HTTPS, which encrypts your data, making it useless even if intercepted.
Let's Encrypt: This non-profit campaign made free website encryption certificates readily available, accelerating the widespread adoption of HTTPS.

Are there still risks?

Non-HTTPS websites: A small percentage of websites (15%) lack HTTPS, leaving your data vulnerable.
WiFi sniffing: Although not as common, attackers can still try to intercept unencrypted data on public Wi-Fi.

Should you still be careful?

Use a VPN: Even with HTTPS, your browsing history can be tracked by Wi-Fi providers and ISPs. A VPN encrypts your data and hides your activity.
Be cautious with non-HTTPS websites: Avoid entering sensitive information like passwords on such websites.

Overall:

HTTPS encryption has significantly reduced the risks of evil twin attacks. While vigilance is still recommended, especially when using unencrypted websites, it's no longer a major threat for most web browsing.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

Please stop using Express. Snowden (yes, that one) called out why a while back. It's pretty wild.

Mullvad is definitely the favorite among those that I would expect to have experience. Honorable mentions to Proton and IVPN. There's a big difference in ethics among providers. Given the entire point of a VPN (as a proxy to the external Internet), this is a critical point that can't be ignored. Otherwise you're just trading Comcast's spying for Kape's spying.

I recently switched to AirVPN, since it's one of the few to still support port forwarding.