Sidejacking

Open Wi-Fi users beware: Sidejacking is rampant

A recent New York Times article had the first mention of a word I have never heard before: Sidejacking.  Unlike traditional hacking where someone would have to gain access to your computer - sidejacking software allows people to steal your information out of thin air, directly off of open wifi networks.   The article explained how airports, coffee shops, libraries - any place where you can logon without a password is a breeding ground for stealing personal passwords and logons.  The most recent twist of this application actually shows you the pages people are logging on to in a wifi environment in real time.  This allows someone with limited computer knowledge the ability to logon to people’s emails, Facebook accounts, Twitter pages and anything else that isn't encrypted.

Although this is an American story it is worth reading if you regularly use open WiFi connections.