October 18, 2017 1:39 PM
Important: Say No to KRACK
An important consumer alert has been issued by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr in regards to a recent discovery of a WiFi security vulnerability. Key Reinstallation Attack (KRACK) is a WiFi vulnerability that exists in almost every WiFi network, even networks utilizing WPA2 security. You can read in more detail about KRACK HERE or a quick overview HERE.
AG Carr recommends the following:
- Update your smartphone to the most recent operating system.
- Restart your computer daily and allow updates to install.
- Refrain from using your laptop or smartphone on public wireless networks until you verify that a patch is installed on your device; consider using your cellular network to connect instead.
- Continue to use “WPA2” because it is still the most secure WiFi protocol currently available, according to experts
It is not listed in the suggestions, but I highly recommend updating the firmware on your WiFi router/modem ASAP. You can brick (totally mess up) your device if you don’t know what you are doing, so please utilize a professional if you are not comfortable with the process.
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“please utilize a professional if you are not comfortable with the process”
And this is why the KRACK flaw will persist into the 2030s. No one is going to take their router to GeekSquad.
The key is to protect your own devices: be on the latest software and hardware. iOS for recent phones should be secure. If you’re using Android, you’re at the mercy of your cell phone carrier to provide a protected image.
I unlocked my bootloader on my Android phone and installed LineageOS. They were one of the first to patch it. They have nightly and weekly builds.
The warning was for those that had no idea what they were doing. Firmware updates can definitely ruin a device if they are done incorrectly.