Newly released research suggests that a widely used security protocol for WiFi connections could be exploited by hackers.
Belgian university researchers Mathy Vanhoef and Frank Piessens indicated that the flaw in the WPA2 protocol meant that attackers located within range of WiFi connections could access encrypted information on devices using the network or even install malware, Reuters reported.
The computer scientists at KU Leuven, located outside Brussels, added that the intercepted communications could include emails, photos, passwords or credit card numbers.
“If your device supports WiFi, it is most likely affected,” Vanhoef wrote, according to The Guardian.
The Wi-Fi Alliance, whose member companies support wireless internet hotspots, responded in a statement that there is no evidence the loophole was exploited by malicious actors and that the issue “can be resolved through straightforward software updates.”
“Wi-Fi Alliance has taken immediate steps to ensure users can continue to count on WiFi to deliver strong security protections,” the group said.
Filed Under: Devices
