Have Wi-Fi at home? Be warned! Your money in bank account is under threat

Yes, Wi-Fi is popular and people prefer having that at home as it usually provides faster Net for all concerned. However, here is a warning! The guest Wi-Fi (which is separate from home Wi-Fi as it is supposed to keep your own devices in the home safe. It is provided to guests who come to your home and if they want access to your Wi-Fi, then you provide it to them by giving a password). Guest Wi-Fi was supposed to be safe, bu NO LONGER! Guess Wi-Fi at your home is prone to hacking owing to inadequate in-built security, say researchers.

Most routers sold these days offer consumers two or more network choices - one for the family which can connect all the home smart devices and computers and the other for visitors or less sensitive data. Unfortunately, this can lead to outing of your sensitive data including bank account details stored on your devices that hackers can take advantage of to steal your money.

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A study by Israel-based Ben-Gurion University (BGU) indicates that routers from well-known manufacturers are vulnerable to cross-router data leaks through a malicious attack on one of the two separated networks. "All of the routers we surveyed regardless of brand or price point were vulnerable to at least some cross-network communication once we used specially crafted network packets," ANI quoted Adar Ovadya from BGU`s department of software and information systems engineering as saying. Less sensitive data may include multimedia streams or environmental sensor readings. 

In the paper, the researchers reveal the existence of various levels of cross-router covert channels which may be combined and utilize to either check a malicious implant or, IMPORTANTLY, to transfer or retrieve data from a computer or server. 

So, how to stay safe? Keep your hardware separate. Perhaps, you will need to tell your friends that they cannot have the password to your Wi-Fi - gently.

Oh yes, explain the reason why. Perhaps, they will benefit from it too. After all, the idea is to keep yourself, your money and your data safe. (With Inputs from IANS)