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Wi-Fi Vulnerability Could Put Millions of Devices at Risk

But hackers must be close by

By Sascha Brodsky Sascha Brodsky Senior Tech Reporter Macalester College Columbia University Sascha Brodsky is a freelance journalist based in New York City. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, the Guardian, the Los Angeles Times and many other publications. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 12, 2021 02:55PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Internet & Security Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Newly discovered flaws in the Wi-Fi standard reportedly could let hackers steal information from devices. Noted security expert Mathy Vanhoef wrote on his blog recently that programming mistakes in Wi-Fi could affect every Wi-Fi device. However, Vanhoef said that the risk of attacks using the flaws is low because a hacker would have to be nearby. "The biggest risk in practice is likely the ability to abuse the discovered flaws to attack devices in someone's home network," Vanhoef wrote. "For instance, many smart home and Internet-of-Things devices are rarely updated, and Wi-Fi security is the last line of defense that prevents someone from attacking these devices." Vanhoef ran experiments and discovered that two out of four tested home routers were affected by the vulnerability, as well as several IoT devices and some smartphones. Wi-Fi has generally been considered a secure standard. "The discovery of these vulnerabilities comes as a surprise because the security of Wi-Fi has, in fact, significantly improved over the past years," Vanhoef wrote. But other attacks using Wi-Fi have come to light recently. Security researchers were able to hack a Tesla Model 3 car by using a drone flying overhead. The researchers demonstrated how the drone could launch an attack via Wi-Fi to hack a parked car and open its doors from a distance of up to roughly 300 feet. The researchers said the exploit worked against Tesla S, 3, X, and Y models. Many smart home and internet-of-things devices are rarely updated, and Wi-Fi security is the last line of defense that prevents someone from attacking these devices. The researchers used the car’s Wi-Fi connection as a starting point, then inserted code via the Model 3's built-in web browser. "It would be possible for an attacker to unlock the doors and trunk, change seat positions, both steering and acceleration modes—in short, pretty much what a driver pressing various buttons on the console can do," the researchers wrote on their website. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Kick People off Your Wi-Fi How to Hack-Proof Your Wireless Router Can a Smart TV Get a Virus? Is It Safe to Use an Open Wireless Network? How to Update Your Logitech Unifying Receiver Securing Your Home Network and PC After a Hack What Is an Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)? How to Secure Your Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot Microsoft Windows XP on New Computers How to Fix a Wi-Fi Router How to Keep Your Smart Home From Being Hacked Should You Change the Default Name (SSID) of a Wireless Router? Why You Should Change Wi-Fi Network Default Passwords The 6 Best Antivirus Apps for iPhones in 2022 5 Reasons iPhone Is More Secure Than Android What Is a Wi-Fi Hotspot? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies