Hackers often take advantage of this malicious documents or illegal software as a way to get their malware onto vulnerable devices, but a new Windows bug could let them do this over Wi-Fi.
As reported by Forbesthis new Wi-Fi vulnerability (tracked as CVE-2024-30078) affects all versions of Windows and, if exploited, could be used by an attacker to infect vulnerable PCs with malware.
The flaw itself has a CVSS score of 8.8 out of 10, and what makes it particularly dangerous is the fact that an attacker does not need physical access to a target system. However, they must be on the same Wi-Fi network to use this.
Here’s everything you need to know about this new critical flaw, along with some tips on how to protect your own Windows PC or laptop from hackers.
This makes public Wi-Fi an even bigger threat
In a update guide on its site, Microsoft confirmed that no special obligations need to be met to exploit this flaw, other than the hacker being close to a target and on the same Wi-Fi network. They also do not require authentication or access to any settings or files on the victim’s PC.
To make matters worse, an exploit for this new WiFi leak requires no interaction from a potential victim at all. This means that users cannot click on a link in a phishing email or to download a malicious attachment to make this work.
For those who work from home or in the office, this type of vulnerability is much less of a concern. However, if you often experience one of the best windows laptops If you reveal yourself in public (for example, in a coffee shop or at the airport), you are more likely to fall victim to an attack that exploits this flaw.
Although often free, public wifi poses its own dangers even without such a flaw potentially being used in cyber attacks. This is why I highly recommend using one of the best VPNs when connected to public Wi-Fi networks. If you haven’t signed up for it or downloaded its client before your big trip, you’ll want to avoid logging into sensitive sites, like your online bank account, on your laptop when you’re connected to public Wi-Fi. . Instead, you’ll need to use your phone and your own mobile data plan.
The good news here is that exploitation of this vulnerability is considered “less likely” by Microsoft. However, now that news of this flaw is public, enterprising hackers may try to develop an exploit for it. The second good news is that Microsoft has already fixed this flaw along with 48 other vulnerabilities as part of its June 2024 Patch Tuesday updates.
How to protect your Windows PC from malware
Just like with your smartphone, the easiest and simplest way to avoid falling victim to malware on your Windows PC is to keep your machine up to date and using the latest software. Microsoft releases new security updates every second Tuesday of the month, and you can use this timeline for when to update your desktop or laptop.
From here you need to make sure Windows Defender is enabled on your computer. This free antivirus software from Microsoft has really improved over the years and it now does a great job of catching the latest threats before they can do any damage to your PC. For even more protection, consider signing up for one of the best antivirus software solutions. Paid antivirus software is usually updated more regularly, plus you often get access to a VPN, password manager and other extras to help you stay safe online.
New vulnerabilities like the ones described above pop up quite often, but if you stay informed and update your PC regularly, your devices and your data should be safe from exploitative attacks.