WiFiCue: Public Wireless Access Security Assessment Tool

Abstract

Public wireless access points are commonly provided by governments, businesses, schools and other organizations and provide access to the Internet for numerous use cases and can present varying degrees of risk to users. While there are steps that can be taken to mitigate public Wi-Fi risks, ranging from avoidance to the application of end-to-end encryption, application specific encryption, and other technologies and tools, these options are not always viable. This paper examines risks associated with Wi-Fi from on a network-by-network perspective. Recommender Systems are presented as part of a proposed mechanism for informing users of the risks of connecting to a specific access point. Implementing prototype architecture for this purpose is examined.