Ask Asa: Protect yourself from high-tech 'evil twins'

LATE FEES IF YOU MISS A CREDIT CARD PAYMENT./// “EVIL TWINS” HAVE PLAYED ROLES IN STORYTELLING SINCE THE DAWN OF TIME. AS CONSUMER REPORTER ASA AARONS SMITH REPORTS … THEY’RE FINDING THEIR WAY INTO HIGH-TECH CONSUMER SCAMS. <> “EVIL TWIN STORIES HAVE AS LONG AND SCARY A LEGACY AS VAMPIRES, ZOMBIES, AND OTHER MAKE- BELIEVE HORROR VILLAINS. FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE PRESENT DAY – EVEN BART SIMPSON STUMBLED UPON HIS EVIL TWIN, HUGO, IN THE ATTIC.” <> AND NOW THERE’S AN EVIL TWIN IN THE FORM OF A TECHNOLOGICAL TERROR WE ALL NEED TO FEAR AT PLACES FROM COFFEE SHOPS TO AIRPORTS. BEWARE THE INTERNET EVIL TWIN. IT SOUNDS MENACING BECAUSE IT IS. ERIC PLAM, PRESIDENT OF SIMO, A MOBILE HOTSPOT COMPANY, SAYS IT UNDERCUTS THE SECURITY OF OUR MOST COMMONLY USED TECHNOLOGY. <> “WI-FI HAS BECOME UBIQUITOUS AND NECESSARY. IT’S ALMOST LIKE AIR AND WATER. EVERYBODY HAS A DEVICE THEY WANT TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET.” <> SO WHERE HIDES THIS EVIL TWIN? LIKE MOST EVIL, WHERE YOU LEAST SUSPECT IT. <> “LET’S SAY YOU WANT TO GO TO YOUR LOCAL COFFEE SHOP. LET’S MAKE UP A NAME. LET’S CALL IT ACE CAFE. AND YOU GO THERE FREQUENTLY. YOU BRING YOUR LAPTOP TO GET SOME WORK DONE, AND YOU CONNECT TO THEIR FREE WI-FI, AND IT WORKS FINE.” <> IT ALSO WORKS FINE FOR SCAMMERS WHO HAVE COPIED THE WI-FI NAME AND SET UP A DUPLICATE. <> “THE UNSUSPECTING GUEST WILL COME TO THE CAFE, OPEN UP THEIR LAPTOP, CONNECT TO THE EVIL TWIN, AND GRANTED ACCESS TO THE INTERNET. BUT ALONG THE WAY, THIS BAD ACTOR IS INTERCEPTING DATA, KEYSTROKES, TAKING INFORMATION, UPLOADING MALWARE, ALL KINDS OF NEFARIOUS THINGS.” <> NEFARIOUS THINGS INCLUDE STEALING PERSONAL EMAILS, IMAGES, EMPLOYMENT INFO AND, PERHAPS WORST OF ALL, FINANCIAL DATA. SAY YOU DECIDE TO MOVE SOME MONEY FROM YOUR 401K TO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT OR PAY SOME BILLS. <> “THEY COULD INTERCEPT YOUR KEYSTROKES AND LOGIN AND PASSWORD.” <> IT MIGHT BE HOURS, DAYS OR WEEKS UNTIL YOU REALIZE SOMEONE HAS COMPROMISED YOUR ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED. SO, HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF? <> GETTING ONLINE IN PUBLIC 1. ALWAYS VERIFY THE NETWORK ID OR SSDI TO BE SURE YOU ARE CONNECTING TO THE RIGHT SERVICE 2. CONSIDER DOWNLOADING A VPN OR VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK APP ONTO YOUR COMPUTER. IT’S NOT CHEAP. BUT IT IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR ONLINE PRIVACY. 3. SKIP THE PUBLIC WI-FI AND USE YOUR SMARTPHONE AS A MOBILE HOTSPOT. <> THE NEXT TIME YOU GO ONLINE IN PUBLIC, REMEMBER- BEATING TODAY’S TECHNOLOGICAL DOPPELG?NGERS REQUIRES VIGILANCE AND THE PROPER DIGITAL DEFENSES. AFTER ALL, IN THE MODERN WORLD, THE THREAT OF AN EVIL TWIN ISN’T JUST A PLOT TWIST-IT’S A REAL DANGER, HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT. IF YOU HAVE A CONSUMER QUESTION OR PROBLEM