Bangkok: A word of warning to budget-conscious users! Free Wi-Fi might cost you more in terms of personal data. The Technology Crime Suppression Operations Center (AOC 1441) of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has issued a warning to budget-conscious users who frequently use public Wi-Fi in cafes, airports, or shopping malls. The convenience offered may come at a significant cost, as most networks are open and have low security, making them vulnerable to techniques such as packet sniffing and creating fake login pages (evil twins) that mimic legitimate names to trick users into entering passwords and credit card information. Furthermore, these fake login pages can be used to steal social media accounts. More advanced techniques, such as session hijacking, can also compromise banking applications even on HTTPS websites if the user's device lacks up-to-date security measures.
According to Thai News Agency, cyber threats often come in the form of "psychological traps" that make users feel safe when they see many others using the network, leading them to neglect precautions. AOC 1441 therefore emphasizes five golden rules for online security: never conduct financial transactions via public Wi-Fi and always use mobile data instead; verify the network name with staff before connecting; disable auto-connect to prevent connecting to fake networks; enable two-factor authentication (2FA) and use a reliable VPN; and always keep your device's operating system updated to the latest version. Data breaches can have long-term consequences, both financially and in terms of privacy, and these small rules of discipline are the best protection in the online world.