Some 40 per cent of people who have Wi-Fi at home do not understand how to change the security settings on their wireless (Wi-Fi) networks, an online survey commissioned by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has suggested.
To highlight the need for a greater understanding of the security measures available to wireless network owners, the ICO has published new guidance, seeking to help people to better protect themselves against cyber-crime and identity theft.
The survey, carried out online by YouGov, has also shown that, despite most internet service providers now setting up and installing their customers’ Wi-Fi security settings for them, 16 per cent of the people surveyed with a home Wi-Fi network are unsure or are already aware that they are using an unsecured network.
The new guidance from the ICO tells computer users that if their device is set to automatically connect to available Wi-Fi networks, then it runs the risk of automatically connecting to unknown and potentially dangerous networks. Instead the user should switch off auto-connect on your device settings page and refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for more details.
A user should change the password from a default supplied with the router. A password should be easy to remember but difficult for a stranger to guess, and preferably something with a combination of letters and numbers. Avoid using something obvious such as the name of your street. The ICO is calling for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), retailers and manufacturers to make sure the guidance supplied with their Wi-Fi equipment is clear to the end user and explains the risks of people using an unsecured connection.
Steve Wood, Head of Policy at the ICO said: “People wouldn’t go out and leave their front door unlocked, but many are still surfing the internet without adequate protection for their personal information. The fact that Google’s Street View cars were able to pick up payload data from unsecured Wi-Fi networks as a by-product of their signals mapping exercise has further highlighted that more people need to take their Wi-Fi security settings seriously. Leaving your Wi-Fi connection unsecured allows people easy access to your network. This increase in traffic could reduce the speed of your connection or cause you to exceed a data cap imposed by the service provider. However even more worryingly, it also leaves you open to the actions of rogue individuals who may be using your Wi-Fi to carry out potentially criminal actions without your knowledge. Today’s new guidance aims to get people thinking about whether they are doing enough to ensure their wireless networks are secure.”
Guidance from the ICO on the use of Wi-Fi networks is available here:
