Broadband News

Broadband users clued up on wireless security

(05-09-07) - An impressive 78.5 per cent of you are taking security precautions while using wireless broadband (WiFi) at home according to the latest BroadbandChoices.co.uk survey.

The most popular encryption for the 94.2 per cent of you using WiFi is WPA (wireless protected access), which offers increased security compared to the older WEP (wireless equivalent privacy) passwords that can take as little as 10 minutes to hack into.

In addition to this, a notable number of users are implementing extra security as a precaution against hacking and fraud, with 14.9 per cent using wireless isolation to hide their signal, making it invisible to anyone searching for networks in their area. The same number of switched-on broadband users also use an access list which lets them identify and approve the individual MAC number - similar to an credit card number that identifies your PC - on a computer. This means that anyone wanting to use your WiFi signal would not only need your password, but would also need to be on the access list.

Chris Eagle, BroadbandChoices.co.uk commercial manager, said: “While these figures are encouraging and show that internet users are becoming more knowledgeable about the risks and solutions to internet security, a worrying 21.5 per cent of users are either not using any security, or don’t know whether or not their networks are encrypted.

“Online crime is on the rise but it is also easy to avoid by knowing how to take the necessary precautions and implementing the security already installed on routers, modems and computers, as well as paid-for antivirus and firewall software.”