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50% admit to stealing broadband
(16-11-07) - More than half of computer users have admitted to illegally accessing someone else’s wifi connection according to new research.
Internet security firm Sophos found that 54 per cent of internet users had “piggybacked” an unsecured wireless signal - which is an offence under both the Communications Act 2003 and the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
Most people regard this as a “victimless” crime, said Tony Neate, managing director of GetSafeOnline, a government-backed organisation, and only 11 people have actually been arrested for it in the UK.
However, the 7.8 million people reported by GetSafeOnline not to have secured their wireless networks, are leaving themselves open to a multitude of problems.
Michael Phillips, BroadbandChoices.co.uk product director, said: “The vast majority of people who have piggybacked a wifi connection will have done so simply to check their emails or look up an address - which many people consider to be perfectly innocent.
“However, by leaving your router open to passing strangers, anyone could download illegal content over your connection - which will only be traced back to you - or even steal your personal and financial information.”
Because of the difficulty in tracking this crime and tracing offenders, a spokesman for the Serious Organised Crime Agency told The Times that broadband users must accept some level of responsibility and take measures to secure their networks with passwords and encryption.
Mr Phillips added: “At the very least, someone else using your internet connection could slow down your broadband, and anything they download will impact on your usage allowance. In the worst case they could take over your PC and access all your files, including email contacts and online banking. It just makes sense to take the simple steps needed to protect yourself.”
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