A 42-year-old man from Western Australia is set to make an appearance in Perth Magistrates Court today, facing a string of nine charges related to alleged cybercrime activities. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has accused the man of setting up fake free WiFi access points, masquerading as legitimate networks to steal personal data from unsuspecting victims.

The cybercrime investigation initially unfolded in April 2024 when an airline raised concerns about a suspicious WiFi network that was detected by its employees during a domestic flight. Subsequently, AFP investigators conducted a search of the man’s belongings upon his return to Perth Airport on April 19, 2024, where they confiscated a portable wireless access device, a laptop, and a mobile phone. A further search of the man’s residence in Palmyra led to the collection of additional evidence.

Upon analyzing the seized data and devices, the AFP’s Western Command Cybercrime Operations Team purportedly uncovered numerous personal credentials belonging to various individuals and fake WiFi pages. Allegedly, the man utilized a portable wireless access device to create ‘evil twin’ free WiFi networks at multiple locations, enticing users to believe they were authentic services.

The AFP alleges that when unsuspecting individuals attempted to connect to these fraudulent networks, they were redirected to a counterfeit webpage that prompted them to log in using their email or social media credentials. These details were then allegedly stored on the man’s devices, potentially granting him access to victims’ online communications, stored images, videos, and sensitive banking information.

Detective Inspector Andrea Coleman of the AFP’s Western Command Cybercrime unit stressed the importance of exercising caution when connecting to public WiFi networks. She advised that individuals should not be required to enter personal details, such as logging in through an email or social media account, when connecting to a free WiFi network.

The man is facing severe charges, including unauthorized impairment of electronic communication, possession or control of data with the intention to commit a serious offense, unauthorized access or modification of restricted data, and dealing in personal financial information. The penalties for these offenses can result in imprisonment ranging from two to ten years.

Detective Inspector Coleman urged the public to take preventive measures when using public WiFi, such as installing a reputable virtual private network (VPN), disabling file sharing, and refraining from engaging in sensitive activities like online banking. She also recommended turning off WiFi on devices when not in use and employing strong, unique passphrases for online accounts.

Individuals who have connected to free WiFi networks in airport precincts and on domestic flights are advised to change their passwords and report any suspicious activities to Report Cyber. The AFP’s investigation is ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the alleged offenses.

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