For Internet connectivity, from smartphones to smart TVs and other IoT devices, the feature of Wi-Fi is the most handy. However, in a recent development, there are such loopholes in Wi-Fi noticed, by which the users using Wi-Fi connectivity pose a threat of being a victim of an attack.
This flaw has been named fragatax and has been detected by the New York University postdoctoral researcher and cybersecurity expert, MathyVanhoef, in Abu Dhabi.
With Fragatax or Fragmentation and Aggression Attacks, an attacker in the Wi-Fi range of a user can steal their sensitive information along with pins and passwords. The researcher has stated that some of the flaws encountered are related to the design of the Wi-Fi standard. However, he also said that several other flaws have also come to light due to mistakes made in the programming of Wi-Fi products. Due to these flaws, the attackers have been able to get access to break the personal network of any device.
In accordance with such cyber frauds going on, MathyVanhoef has created a dedicated website related to Frag Attacks, which elaborates on the risk associated with these flaws. According to the security researcher, almost every Wi-Fi product has been affected due to at least one flaw. The biggest concern of the hour is that most products have more than one flaw, which makes them even more vulnerable. He further added that the drawbacks of programming could be easily exploited against the shortcomings related to design and hardware. Experiments on more than 75 devices revealed that one or more attacks could be made on all of them. However, security updates are available for some devices. For example, Microsoft fixed these flaws with its Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 updates. Similarly, the company that makes Wi-Fi routers has also pushed updates for their devices.
Rising integration for smart devices such as smart phones, tablets, watches, and others is further pushing the market growth upwards. – Global IoT Security Market Report By Value Market Research
The security update by Net gear states that to take advantage of the loopholes, the hacker must know the Wi-Fi password of the user. In order to intercept any communication between the Wi-Fi router and the devices connected to its network, the attacker needs to be in the physical proximity of the Wi-Fi network. However, it has also been written on the page that users can access their data without knowing it in depth due to flaws. The growing fraud cases going around reveal a very vulnerable position of the security services provided to millions of users. The scam is going around the Wi-Fi connectivity, and its security further adds pressure on our technology. Resolving these issues is hence the need of the hour.
Naira Shekhawat has been into Content Writing just after completing her Graduation in English Literature. Her love for words has won her many accolades in her respective jobs ever since. Naira covers business sections for VMR News. She is a traveller by heart and loves writing on food blogs as a freelancer.