New Wi-Fi exploit might affect iOS, Android, Linux devices: How to protect yourself

Also, they need to spoof the MAC address of the target device and connect to the network using their credentials and get a response. Once done, the malefactor will have access to network data in plaintext or unencrypted form. The research suggests that it can further be used to carry out a ‘context override attack’, an attack that prevents clients from attacking each other.

Public hotspots, which are often protected by Passpoint can be easily attacked using the method and might be used by miscreants to authenticate the user using their phone’s SIM card. Those using WPA2 or WPA3 routers on their home networks and have the ‘client isolation’ feature enabled are also at risk.

How can I protect myself?

Those interested in knowing if the new exploit affects their Wi-Fi network can download an open-sourced called MacStealer. Published by the researchers themselves, it lets users know if their network is susceptible to the attack or not. While Cisco said securely configured networks at not at risk, the company did recommend network admins use policy enforcement mechanisms and implement transport layer security to encrypt the data.

Those with Wi-Fi networks at home can make use of the MAC Address Randomization feature, which is already available on the majority of devices. It offers an additional layer of security by applying a randomized MAC address, which is basically device specific 12-character number. For the uninitiated, MAC address is a number that helps identify the device connected to the network.

Enabling MAC Address Randomization helps mask the original MAC address on the network, making it a bit harder for the attacker to successfully carry out the attack. While this is not a solid solution since it can be disabled by network provider, researchers say currently it is the best way to patch the exploit.

To enable MAC Address Randomization, head over to your router settings and enable the feature from there. Keep in mind that the feature depends on your Wi-Fi router’s model and manufacturer, so you might have to look up the router’s model number and settings on the internet.