Difference between revisions of "KRACK Vulnerability"
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=What should I do?= | =What should I do?= | ||
* | # Update the operating system on your phone, computer and other client devices when they receive security updates. | ||
#* Microsoft - has included a fix for KRACK in their security updates starting October 10th (Updates are available for Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and 7). | |||
#* Apple - currently has a fix that isn't availble on the stable version of the operating systems yet. It should become available within the | |||
#* Android - getting timely security updates is messy and sometimes impossible because hardware vendors and mobile network control if and when those updates are delivered. We recommend using a trusted [https://www.ncf.ca/ncf/support/wiki/Virtual_Private_Networks VPN] service if you can. | |||
#* Linux - | |||
# NCF recommends that you do not use public wifi. KRACK is just one of many known security risks associated with using public wifi. Using a trusted [https://www.ncf.ca/ncf/support/wiki/Virtual_Private_Networks VPN] service is one way of keeping your data encrypted on public wifi. | |||
# Connected your devices where possible to the modem by ethernet especially if there is not security update available for them yet. This is also an effective way to avoid Wi-Fi interference which can cause slow Wi-Fi connection is congested areas. | |||
# Use HTTPS to connect to secured services and websites. This means information transmitted to such web pages will have end-to-end encryption. Web pages that use HTTPS or another secure connection will include HTTPS in the URL. | |||
#* Check on your browser's address bar to ensure the. If your browser shows a little lock in the address bar and says "secure," you should be safe. | |||
#* HTTPS Everywhere on Chrome [https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/https-everywhere/gcbommkclmclpchllfjekcdonpmejbdp] | |||
#* HTTPS Everywhere on Mozilla Firefox [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/https-everywhere/] | |||
# Consider using a VPN service. You can learn more about VPN services [https://www.ncf.ca/ncf/support/wiki/Virtual_Private_Networks here] | |||
=What is NCF doing about KRACK?= | =What is NCF doing about KRACK?= | ||
Revision as of 12:22, 3 November 2017
Disclaimer: This page is specifically written to help members with limited technical knowledge or experience understand the most relevant aspects of this topic for them. We include some helpful links below for further study.
What is KRACK?
- KRACKs stands for Key Reinstallation Attacks and describes attacks on Wi-Fi networks using weaknesses in WPA2 protocol which secures most modern protected Wi-Fi networks.
- KRACKs allows attacker to read and access information on your wifi network that was considered secured.
- Wi-Fi networks use a password through WPA2 for 2 general purposes:
- Control who can connect to the network; and
- Encrypt (or conceal) the data shared over the network between the access point (Modem or Router) and clients (computers, phones, tablets, etc). Encryption is done by the Wi-Fi password to generate an even stronger key that is used to scramble the data between the access point and client.
Why should I care?
- WPA2 is widely used and presently the strongest form of Wi-Fi security available to the average person including modems configured by NCF.
- Variations of KRACK can be used against clients of various kinds including devices running Android, Apple OSes, Windows and Linux.
Important Things to Note:
- NCF modems with standard configuration are not vulnerable to KRACK however your client devices may be.
- However, once firmware updates are provided by our hardware vendors we will make them available for members.
- Vulnerability vs Infection: Devices having a vulnerability to a particular attack does not mean that you device are already infected or even at a high risk of infection. Follow the recommendations below to guard against this vulnerability.
- Proximity: An attacker needs to be within wireless range of your network that (close enough to connect to your wifi).
- Time: This attack works during the periods of connection and reconnection of your client device to a wifi network. As such, an attacker has a very limited time window in which to try employing this attack (usually a few seconds).
What should I do?
- Update the operating system on your phone, computer and other client devices when they receive security updates.
- Microsoft - has included a fix for KRACK in their security updates starting October 10th (Updates are available for Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and 7).
- Apple - currently has a fix that isn't availble on the stable version of the operating systems yet. It should become available within the
- Android - getting timely security updates is messy and sometimes impossible because hardware vendors and mobile network control if and when those updates are delivered. We recommend using a trusted VPN service if you can.
- Linux -
- NCF recommends that you do not use public wifi. KRACK is just one of many known security risks associated with using public wifi. Using a trusted VPN service is one way of keeping your data encrypted on public wifi.
- Connected your devices where possible to the modem by ethernet especially if there is not security update available for them yet. This is also an effective way to avoid Wi-Fi interference which can cause slow Wi-Fi connection is congested areas.
- Use HTTPS to connect to secured services and websites. This means information transmitted to such web pages will have end-to-end encryption. Web pages that use HTTPS or another secure connection will include HTTPS in the URL.
- Consider using a VPN service. You can learn more about VPN services here
What is NCF doing about KRACK?
- If firmware updates for NCF modems become available that patch KRACK such that it