Public Wi-Fi networks — like those in coffee shops or hotels — are not nearly as safe as you think. Even if they have a password, you're sharing a network with tons of other people, which means your data is at risk. Here's how to stay safe when you're out and about.

Just because most wireless routers have a firewall to protect you from the internet doesn't mean you're protected from others connected to the same network. It's remarkably easy to steal someone's username and password, or see what they're doing just by being on the same network. Don't take that chance. We're going to show you which settings are the most important ones.

In yet another example of smart medical device insecurity, it has emerged recently that a line of Hospira drug pumps are exposed to a series of remotely exploitable vulnerabilities that could allow an attacker to take complete control of affected pumps or simply render them useless.

These drug infusion pumps are part of the new wave of smart and connected medical devices. Smart medical devices essentially remove the risk of human error for people requiring the chronic administration of drugs. Unfortunately, many of the companies developing these devices have repeatedly demonstrated a complete disregard for security. 

Recently the United States Government Accountability Office published a report warning the Federal Aviation Administration that aviation faces cybersecurity challenges in “at least three areas”, including the protection of aircraft avionics used to operate and guide aircrafts.

The media interpreted this warning to mean, “Modern aircrafts can be hacked and commandeered through onboard Wi-Fi”. But, is it really that bad? A modern passenger plane has multiple computer networks, and those networks share data of differing levels of importance, transferring the necessary information between them. 

Researchers have revealed a zero-day vulnerability in iOS 8 that, when exploited by a malicious wireless hotspot, will repeatedly crash nearby Apple iPhones, iPads and iPods. The attack will render vulnerable iOS things within range unstable or even entirely unusable by triggering constant reboots.

Anyone can take any router and create a Wi-Fi hotspot that forces you to connect to their network, and then manipulate the traffic to cause apps and the operating system to crash. This is not a denial-of-service where you can't use your Wi-Fi – this is a denial-of-service so you can't use your device even in offline mode.

Hundreds of planes flying commercially today could be vulnerable to having their onboard computers hacked and remotely taken over by someone using the plane's passenger Wi-Fi network, or even by someone on the ground.

Modern communications technologies, including IP connectivity, are increasingly used in aircraft systems, creating the possibility that unauthorized individuals might access and compromise aircraft avionics systems. The report explains that as the air traffic control system is upgraded to use Internet-based technology on both the ground and in planes, avionics could be compromised. 

Google and Core Security are at odds over the severity of a vulnerability affecting a number of Android mobile devices, details of which were released by the security vendor today.

The issue was reported to the Android security team and in subsequent communication between the two parties, the severity of the vulnerability was debated, culminating with Core’s disclosure. Google three times acknowledged Core’s report and request for a timeline on a patch, and each time Google said it did not have one. The flaw is a remotely exploitable denial-of-service vulnerability in Wi-Fi-Direct, a standard that allows wireless devices to connect directly.

As employees increasingly demand a more mobile and social workplace, the pressure is on for enterprises to deliver the same technology experience employees have in their personal lives to their work lives.

With an emphasis on intuitive collaboration and enhanced productivity, initiatives such as BYOD encourage this sort of working behavior. From a security perspective however, it also heightens the level of risk in a company. In light of the changes to how we work, a new research conducted a global study which revealed the working habits of professionals around the world, and their attitudes towards online data protection. 

A leading internet activist has tricked Swedish security and defense experts into joining an open Wi-Fi network he set up to challenge digital surveillance. He discovered some of them were using Skype and looking at eBay while working.

The hacker created the Wi-Fi network at a conference earlier this week. Given the network was not encrypted, he managed to monitor the sites people visited, along with emails and text messages of up to 100 delegates, politicians, journalists and security experts among them. The security establishment was in Sälen pushing for more surveillance, but then leading figures go and log on to an unsecure Wi-Fi network.

Data released from a consumer security risks survey found that nearly a third of participants are casual when making online transactions. This action leads to security vulnerability of financial data at risk and poses problems for banks and e-payment systems if they have to refund their clients’ losses.

The study was conducted through an online survey from May to June this year with users from 23 countries. Though users are worried about cyber threats, they still do little to protect themselves. Shocking data shows that children are the most vulnerable Internet users, which poses as a danger for parents. 

Computers housing the world’s most sensitive data are usually isolated from the internet. They’re also not connected to other systems that are internet-connected, and their Bluetooth feature is disabled, too. Sometimes, workers are not even allowed to bring mobile phones within range of the computers.

All of this is done to keep important data out of the hands of remote hackers. But these security measures may be futile in the face of a new technique researchers in Israel have developed for stealthily extracting sensitive data from isolated machines — using radio frequency signals and a mobile phone. The attack recalls a method the NSA has been secretly using for at least six years to siphon data in a similar manner.