Poor Wi-Fi security leaves users at serious risk

Poor security is allowing hackers to access home PCs from a laptop

A quarter of the UK population is at "serious risk" of identity theft and cyber-fraud because of inadequate or even non-existent Wi-Fi security.

The claims come after price comparison website Moneysupermarket.com commissioned an amateur 'hacker' to test the quality of wireless security on the streets of Liverpool, Manchester and Chester.

The hacker was able to tap into 25 per cent of domestic wireless connections using just a laptop.

The study claimed that thousands of internet users had not enabled the security in their wireless modems, leaving hackers free to access their home PCs.

Hackers would be able to steal bank details and identity information, upload illegal content or pornography or even finance or execute a scam from someone else's connection.

Jason Lloyd, head of broadband at Moneysupermarket.com, said: "This is a serious problem which leaves internet users completely exposed.

"Our results found an average one in four of all residential wireless routers unsecured, meaning that anyone can gain access. Inviting identity theft or fraud, an unsecured internet connection can become an open door for criminals."

The repercussions can be severe, according to Lloyd. "It is bad enough if your neighbour can use your internet connection for free, but this becomes far more sinister if someone uses your wireless connection for criminal activity," he said.

"This could be accessing your internet connection to download obscene material, gathering personal information to defraud you or even stealing your identity."

The study was conducted across Liverpool, Manchester and Chester, and Moneysupermarket.com detected that 25 per cent of residential wireless routers were unsecured. This discovery was made using only a standard laptop.

"While we were scanning for unsecured networks we found that the scale of the problem appears to be excessive, and there were many small business routers which were unsecured," said Lloyd.

"You would have imagined that, with potentially many people's livelihood at stake, there would be reasonable measures in place."