The vast majority of global business networks are routinely suffering from large-scale data loss and manipulation as the advent of wireless technology makes them vulnerable to malicious attack by hackers, new research has claimed.

According to a report from global wireless security company Red-M, most global businesses are at risk because they have not secured their wireless infrastructures.

The six-month study of 100 companies across the globe, including large multinational corporations covering a range of industry sectors, found that 80 per cent of corporate networks are accessible from outside their buildings.

Two thirds of banks, 60 per cent of financial services institutions and all education institutions leaked data, the study claimed.

Karl W Feilder, chief executive at Red-M, said in a statement: "Most businesses have not yet grasped the fact that once there is any sort of wireless device on their premises - and today you have to presume there is at least one device in your company - it acts as a point of insecurity by broadcasting company information over the airwaves.

"Sitting in your parking lot up to 300ft away from your building with a laptop and an inexpensive piece of software, an outsider could easily see the information being freely broadcast.

"They could receive network traffic, and could wreak havoc by exposing confidential and sensitive company information and manipulating data."

Feilder went on to warn that companies which had not installed any wireless technology were also at risk because wireless is shipping in devices from PDAs and mobile phones to notebook computers.

He pointed out that Intel's Centrino wireless capability was embedded in 42 per cent of notebook computers shipped last year, and will be in 90 per cent of notebooks shipped this year.

"Whether you're using that wireless capability or not, every wireless notebook represents a clear and present danger to the security of your computer network," warned Feilder.

"Wireless technology cannot be tethered, measured or controlled by traditional network security."