Beware ‘Evil Twin’ WiFi: Protect Your Crypto on Public Networks
News
Security specialists are warning travelers about “Evil Twin” WiFi networks that imitate public hotspots at airports, cafes, hotels, transit hubs, conference venues and tourist locations, enabling attackers to intercept traffic and harvest sensitive data that can be used to steal cryptocurrency.
In scenarios where mobile service is unavailable, such as after long-haul flights or when SIM vendors are closed, users who connect to what appears to be “free airport WiFi” may unknowingly join a spoofed network. Hours later, funds may be transferred to an unknown wallet, consistent with tactics used in Evil Twin attacks.
Attackers clone legitimate WiFi networks
Evil Twin attacks involve creating a fraudulent access point with the same name and characteristics as a legitimate network, tricking devices into connecting so threat actors can monitor traffic or capture credentials, according to security experts. The Australian Federal Police charged a man last year for allegedly deploying fake free WiFi access points at an airport that mimicked official networks to collect victims’ personal information.
Steven Walbroehl, co-founder of cybersecurity firm Halborn, said these attacks are most frequently observed in high-traffic public places where users seek complimentary connectivity. 23pds, the chief information security officer at SlowMist, said Evil Twins are “more common than people think,” and many users “absolutely fall for it.”
Source: Winston Ighodaro
Connecting alone does not automatically lead to loss
Walbroehl noted that simply joining a fraudulent network does not guarantee a cryptocurrency loss if private keys, seed phrases, or other sensitive information are not transmitted while connected. “Even if someone doesn’t see your private key, capturing your exchange credentials, email, or 2FA codes can let attackers drain centralized crypto accounts quickly,” he said.
Watch for spoofed login pages and prompts
According to 23pds, attackers typically guide victims into revealing information after they connect by presenting fake login pages, bogus update requests, prompts to install helper tools, or in the worst case, persuading them to enter a seed phrase — a mistake that “still happens way too often.” He added that Evil Twin attacks primarily exploit user error through phishing and social engineering at opportune moments, rather than breaking encryption.
To reduce risk, 23pds advised avoiding high-risk crypto actions on public WiFi, such as transfers, changing security settings, or connecting new dApps. Best practices include never entering a seed phrase when prompted, using bookmarks for exchanges or typing domain names manually, avoiding search ads, and verifying all addresses manually rather than copying and pasting. Walbroehl recommended using a personal mobile hotspot or private networks and disabling auto-connect on devices to avoid connecting to spoofed access points.
If public WiFi is the only option, experts suggest using a trusted VPN to encrypt traffic and joining only those networks that venue staff verbally confirm as legitimate.
In January, an X user known as The Smart Ape reported that their crypto wallet was drained after using a hotel’s public WiFi and making a series of “stupid mistakes.” While the incident did not involve an Evil Twin access point, it illustrates how attackers can leverage public networks and similar tactics to facilitate theft.
Source: The Smart Ape
Additional travel security practices
Nick Percoco, chief security officer at Kraken, warned in June about lax security awareness at crypto conferences and similar events. 23pds recommended a three-tier approach for travel: avoid accessing primary holdings while away, maintain a separate travel wallet with limited funds, and use a small, unconnected hot wallet for everyday payments, minor swaps, or limited dApp interactions. This structure can help limit losses if a device is stolen, a malicious link is clicked, or another error occurs.
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