Security news and products; wi-fi users at risk of data and identity theft.A new survey commissioned by Steganos, European leader in providing security and privacy software for consumers and SMEs, has found that UK wi-fi users are needlessly exposed to the risk of data and identity theft. Although 86% of those wi-fi users surveyed said they knew there was a risk that their data could be intercepted when connecting via a wi-fi hotspot, only 22% use any form of encryption The reversible transformation of data from the original (the plaintext) to a difficult-to-interpret format (the ciphertext) as a mechanism for protecting its confidentiality, integrity and sometimes its authenticity. Encryption uses an encryption algorithm and one or more encryption keys. to protect it. 37% of wi-fi users surveyed said they have used networks belonging to unknown businesses and residents nearby, exposing themselves to the risk that their data could be intercepted by the operators of those hotspots. The survey revealed that although many users are aware of the threats that their PC is exposed to when connected to the internet, they are less aware of the risk that their data is exposed to as it travels through wi-fi hotspots. While 77% of respondents In the context of marketing research, a representative sample drawn from a larger population of people from whom information is collected and used to develop or confirm marketing strategy. used antivirus software See antivirus program. (tool) antivirus software - Programs to detect and remove computer viruses. The simplest kind scans executable files and boot blocks for a list of known viruses. and 72% used a firewall, only 8% encrypted en·crypt tr.v. en·crypt·ed, en·crypt·ing, en·crypts 1. To put into code or cipher. 2. Computer Science their data and only 14% used a secure, encrypted link to the internet. The vast majority of wi-fi users know they're being reckless reckless adj. in both negligence and criminal cases, careless to the point of being heedless of the consequences ("grossly" negligent). Most commonly this refers to the traffic misdemeanor "reckless driving. : only 14% were unaware that somebody could intercept intercept in mathematical terms the points at which a curve cuts the two axes of a graph. their data while they are connected via Wi-Fi. About half (51%) of those surveyed use wi-fi hotspots several times a week, with 15% using them weekly, 20% using them every couple of weeks and 14% using them monthly. The most popular use of hotspots was to send personal emails (75% of those surveyed), followed by work emails (51%), general research and connecting to the company network (37%). Sensitive data is often sent via wi-fi, as indicated by the 28% of users who said they engage in internet banking and the 23% who shop online via wi-fi. A quarter of those surveyed update their blogs or personal websites from wi-fi hotspots. www.steganos.com |
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