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Wireless networks open to hijackers

Wireless broadband networks have grown in popularity in recent times and now almost all major broadband providers in the UK offer the service. However, such networks are open to hijackers, it has been revealed.

According to research from moneysupermarket.com, one in six (16 per cent) people leave their wireless router unprotected while one in nine (11 per cent) admit to hijacking someone else's Wi-Fi connection.

And a new trend is emerging known as 'piggybacking', which involves users illegally connecting to someone else's wireless router to gain access to the internet for free.

While some may be doing this for economic reasons, others may have ulterior motives leading to severe consequences, such as ID theft, warns James Parker from the website.

He said: "The consequences can be severe. It's bad enough your neighbours can use your internet connection freely, but this becomes far more threatening if someone uses your connection for criminal or improper activity.

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

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