A MegaFon expert spoke about the risks of using shared Wi-Fi

Transferring home Internet to external users who are not family members, or even to commercial organizations is a time bomb. Boris Lopatin, MegaFon's senior expert on fraud investigation, warned about this in an interview with Izvestia.

According to him, good intentions to help a nearby cafe or beauty salon can result in lawsuits from the provider.

"User agreements prohibit subletting, but people continue to ignore this clause, considering it a formality," the expert notes.

However, the legal risks are just the tip of the iceberg. Technical threats are much more dangerous: a shared network blurs the boundaries between personal devices and corporate equipment, creating loopholes for cybercriminals.

"Imagine that: Your router, designed for a family of three or four people, suddenly has to serve dozens of cafe or beauty salon devices. It overheats, the speed drops, and old "smart" devices like a cash register or light fixtures become "holes" in your digital security fence," the specialist explains.

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He clarified that through these "holes" attackers can get into the home network. Once they have access, they are able to spy through laptop cameras, steal passwords from banking applications, or even send spam on your behalf. And the most unpleasant thing is that if the connected business violates the law — for example, it starts distributing pirated content or searching for extremist materials - you will have to answer to the provider and the court.

Any IoT device connected to a shared network is a potential door for intruders. Hackers use vulnerabilities in cash terminals, video surveillance systems, or even smart lamps to intercept data, inject malware, or organize DDoS attacks.

The expert is categorical: never connect your business to your home network. For businesses, the only solution is corporate tariffs with dedicated IP addresses, DDoS protection, and professional support.

The expert emphasizes the importance of digital hygiene to protect the home Internet from unauthorized access. Changing router passwords regularly, updating firmware, and disabling unnecessary services are key security measures. Standard combinations like admin:admin are an easy target for hackers. It is recommended to change router passwords at least once every six months. For additional protection, it is better to use complex combinations of letters, numbers, and special characters. Manufacturers regularly release updates to address vulnerabilities. It is necessary to check for new versions in the router settings (usually in the "System" or "Update" section) and install them immediately after the release.

"Check the list of connected gadgets regularly. To do this, log in to the router's web interface via a browser (the address is usually indicated on the device case, for example, 192.168.0.1). In the "Connected Devices" or "Client List" section, you will see all the gadgets using your network. If you find unfamiliar devices, immediately disable them through settings and change the password," the expert recommends.

These measures do not require special skills, but significantly reduce the risks of hacking. According to the expert, digital hygiene is not a one—time action, but a daily routine that keeps the Internet safe.

On March 30, Alexander Dzhakonia, head of the MegaFon Subscriber Equipment Research and Testing center, told Izvestia how to maintain performance and extend the life of the gadget. He noted that it is important to provide the smartphone with proper nutrition, as well as take care of protection from external factors. The case will protect against scratches and act as an airbag in case of a fall.

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