Be very careful with VPN vulnerabilities

A Virtual Private Network or VPN allows you to create a secure virtual tunnel on the Internet to another network or device. Accessing the Internet through this virtual tunnel makes it difficult for anyone, even your ISP, to spy on your online activities. VPNs also help you hide your location wherever you are and access geographically restricted services. A VPN protects the confidentiality and integrity of messages while they are on the Internet, but of course crakers are always looking for ways to defeat this, and vulnerabilities are a way to bypass and invade VPN.

Anything related to the coronavirus can be a possibility of attack for hackers. We have seen that they have carried out Phishing attacks sending related information to achieve their goals, malware disguised as general information files or even direct attacks on applications widely used today. Many workers are doing their tasks from home.

This causes that many are using VPN tools. As we know, they serve to encrypt the connection when browsing the network, as well as to allow access to certain restricted content in a territory. But it can also be used to access a work team that is physically located elsewhere.

Beware of expired or outdated VPN service vulnerabilities

For the latter, many users are using VPN services these days. Many of whom do not pay attention to whether they are using a tool that may be outdated or have some vulnerability. This is why hackers are searching for security flaws that affect VPN services. According to a group of computer security experts we echo, there are many cybercriminals who are scanning to find vulnerabilities that affect VPN services. They try to find security flaws that can be exploited and in this way steal user data and, ultimately, put security and privacy at risk.

For service providers, something that is highly recommended is the use of Diffie-Hellman keys of 2048 or more bits, It also recommends using the latest versions of protocols that require longer prime numbers, this is because spies may be able to decode prime numbers commonly used in Diffie-Hellman keys of up to 1024 bits, but primes in 2048-bit keys will they will give more of a headache, so this type of spy will not be able to decrypt data secured by these keys for a long time.

When it comes to users, even though spy agencies have their VPN exploit methods and other encryption protocols, you will be much more protected with a VPN than if your communication consists solely of readable text. Even though your computer may be compromised, it would take time and cost them money; it would be expensive for anyone. The more unnoticed you go, the safer you will be.

Other reads:
Internet traffic on WSL2 of Windows 10 firewall
HeartBleed – a software security hole

---