A pineapple is more than just an affront to pizza lovers. It’s eaten in a variety of dishes, it’s leaves were once woven into a textile, it symbolizes hospitality and the Hawaiian Islands of the USA – and now it’s come full circle to spread it’s pizza-hating tentacles into the shadowy underworld of IT. The Wi-Fi Pineapple, its most recent evolution (or at least the evolution of the name), might have even undiscerning Hawaiian pizza lovers cringing.
What is a Wi-Fi Pineapple?
The Wi-Fi Pineapple is hardware originally created for Pen (network penetration testing) – designed to test for vulnerabilities, but as with all great cyber-security ideas, the concept has been turned on the users. Developed by Hak5, it is designed to simulate a trusted Wi-Fi network and intercept network traffic from connected devices. It can be used for various purposes, such as capturing login credentials, conducting man-in-the-middle attacks, and performing network reconnaissance.
The Pineapple exploits a device’s auto-connect feature (in your favorite coffee shop, lunch spot or co-working office lobby) to trick devices into connecting – thus launching a man-in-the-middle attack.
How the Wi-Fi Pineapple Works
The Wi-Fi Pineapple is designed to demonstrate and educate about the vulnerabilities that exist in wireless networks. The device acts as a rogue access point, tricking nearby devices into connecting to it instead of a legitimate network. Here’s a simplified explanation of how it works:
- The Wi-Fi Pineapple creates a wireless network with a common or familiar SSID (network name) that devices are likely to connect to automatically.
- When a device connects to the Pineapple, it acts as a “man-in-the-middle” by intercepting the traffic between the device and the internet.
- The Pineapple can perform various attacks, such as DNS spoofing, where it redirects the device’s internet traffic to malicious websites or captures sensitive information like login credentials.
- It can also perform “evil twin” attacks, where it impersonates a legitimate network, tricking devices into connecting to it. This allows the attacker to monitor and manipulate the device’s network traffic.
- The Pineapple provides a web interface that allows the attacker to easily configure and control the device, view captured data, and launch different attacks.
What are MITM Attacks?
A man-in-the-middle attack can be done remotely through a combination of phishing and website spoofing but can also be executed in close proximity (enter the Pineapple), inserting the hacker between the user and their incoming and outgoing data, soaking up all information as it passes.
How Widely Available is This Wi-Fi Pineapple Technology?
Widely. The first search performed for the creation of this article took the researcher directly to a page offering a Wi-Fi Pineapple for sale for $199 USD. Research into the Wi-Fi Pineapple brought up quite a few highly accessible sites designed to help even the most technologically inept hacker launch attacks. We aren’t going to list them here – but rest assured, we hit up at least 10 sites offering simplified attacking software and hardware designed to deploy attacks against a range of different devices in an array of different situations. In short, this tech is easy to get, easy to deploy and there is a massive amount of information out there on how to effectively use it.
How to Protect Myself from Wi-Fi Pineapple?
- USE A VPN. While many people are using Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to safely connect to their organization’s network, the average IT layman is in the dark. Essentially, a VPN provides a secure connection between your device and the internet. Always use a VPN Software when connecting to public networks – or every time you connect.
- Use a secure network and watch for warning signs. For example, if you see two public networks with the same name on your Wi-Fi options – there is something wrong. Do not click and hope for a quick and easy connection in public (airports, train stations, coffee shops, co-working offices). Avoid connecting to unfamiliar or suspicious WiFi networks, especially those with generic names like “Free WiFi” or “Public WiFi.”
- Don’t ignore website certificate warnings. We are all guilty of wanting that immediate access with no time for a stupid little warning box – but beware. There is a warning for a reason.
- Disable automatic network connections. Turn off the auto-connect feature on your devices to prevent them from connecting to unknown or suspicious networks automatically.
- Use strong and unique passwords. Set strong and unique passwords for your WiFi network and router administration interface. Avoid using default or easily guessable passwords.
- Enable network encryption. Use WPA2 or WPA3 encryption protocols for your WiFi network. This ensures that the data transmitted between your device and the router is encrypted and secure.
- Keep your devices updated. Regularly update the firmware and software on your devices, including your router, to patch any security vulnerabilities.
- Disable SSID broadcasting. Hide your WiFi network’s SSID (network name) to make it less visible to potential attackers. This can be done through your router’s administration interface.
- Use HTTPS. Whenever possible, use websites that have HTTPS encryption. This ensures that the data transmitted between your device and the website is secure.
- For the frequent traveler or remote worker, consider investing in a personal mobile hotspot (don’t forget to setup a complex password!).
About Sangfor Technologies
Founded in 2000, Sangfor Technologies is the global leading vendor of IT infrastructure solutions specializing in Network Security and Cloud Computing. Sangfor Technologies wants you to be connected, safe and productive. We offer world-class network security and cloud computing solutions to businesses with several products listed in the Gartner Magic Quadrant. Has your company, coffee shop or co-working facility deployed the type of network security it needs to keep you protected? Have you even asked the question? How easily do you think you could be hacked where you live and work?
Sangfor encourages readers to know the risks and demand the protection you deserve – at least at work. Guy Rosefelt, Director of International Product Marketing for Sangfor wrote “We need to require that standard systems and protocols be followed, as well as ensure that risk analysis be carried out for each system as it relates to any other system, no matter how tenuous.”
Visit us at www.sangfor.com or encourage those who provide your internet connection to invest in your safety.
