A Fraud, Security and Crime Investigation specialist, Ransford Nana Addo Jnr., has cautioned internet users to be wary of places with free WIFI or internet connectivity.

According to him, connecting to these free services, especially in public spaces, means that you are handing over the administrative privileges to cyber attackers.

He said people fall into the hands of attackers because of these freebies.

Ransford Nana Addo Jnr

“Free WIFIs and free internet in places like malls and airports through our investigations have become one of the common points of compromises of people's devices,” he said.

The Fraud, Security and Crime Investigation specialist was contributing to the topic “How to avoid falling victim to cyber scam” on JoyNews’ The Law on Sunday.

According to him, the attackers take over the human tendency to trust, so “when they realise that there is a free WIFI at public places, they connect theirs and also push it out for people to connect.”

He advised all and sundry to look out for official WIFIs when they find themselves in public places.

He also mentioned that another way cyber attackers access people's device is by the use of charging ports.

Nana Addo Jnr said using cables from public places to connect to user’s device can be risky.

“Areas where you see just a cable and you actually connect it to your phone, you are actually connecting to someone’s device to take over your phone because behind that charger that you are seeing in where you are only connecting the cable to your phone, there is another computer you are actually connecting to your phone that you do not know and they are having access to your computer,” he explained.