In recent years, researchers have raised alarms about the potential for drones to be used as tools for hacking Wi-Fi networks. The scary part? These attacks can happen in seconds. Here's an overview of how drone-assisted hacking works, based on the latest research.
The Evolution of Drone Hacking
Research into drone-assisted hacking began gaining traction in the mid-2010s. Back then, experts demonstrated how drones could be equipped with common hacking tools, such as Wi-Fi Pineapple or Raspberry Pi, to infiltrate networks. Drones would fly within range of a target Wi-Fi network, allowing them to scan for available networks and capture wireless communications. Early attacks focused on exploiting networks with outdated encryption protocols, such as WEP and WPA, which could be cracked relatively quickly. These early tests were often conducted in controlled environments to show how vulnerable many networks were to these kinds of aerial attacks​​
How Drones Hack Wi-Fi Networks
As research progressed, the techniques used to exploit Wi-Fi networks have grown more sophisticated. Below are the most common methods employed by drones in Wi-Fi hacking:
Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
One of the more effective methods that drones use is the man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack. In this attack, a drone intercepts the communication between a device and a Wi-Fi router. The attacker can either eavesdrop on the communication or inject malicious packets to alter the data being exchanged. Researchers have shown how drones can create rogue access points, tricking devices into connecting to these fake networks, where attackers can then capture sensitive information​.
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