32pc use others' Wi-Fi network: Survey

The Wi-Fi Alliance, a global, independent, non-profit trade organization that works to deliver Wi-Fi connectivity experience, urges consumers to resolve to protect their Wi-Fi networks and devices.

A recent poll conducted by Wakefield Research in conjunction with Wi-Fi Alliance, finds that "borrowing" Wi-Fi access is still a somewhat common practice. The poll showed that 32 percent of respondents said they have tried to get on a Wi-Fi network that wasn't theirs - up 18 percent from a December 2008 poll. 

Fourty percent of respondents said they would be more likely to trust someone with their house key than with their Wi-Fi network password.

With an estimated 201 million households using Wi-Fi networks and as many as 750,000 Wi-Fi hotspots available worldwide, more personal data is being carried by these networks, making Wi-Fi security paramount in importance.

More than one quarter of those surveyed said sharing their Wi-Fi network password feels more personal than sharing their toothbrush.

"Most consumers know that leaving their Wi-Fi network open is not a good thing, but the reality is that many have not taken the steps to protect themselves," said Kelly Davis-Felner, marketing director for the Wi-Fi Alliance. "Consumers can usually activate Wi-Fi security protections in a few simple steps, but much like the seatbelts in your car, it won't protect you unless you use it."

Here are a few key things that Wi-Fi users can do to secure their Wi-Fi devices and personal data:

Set home Wi-Fi networks for WPA2 security - Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) is the latest in network security technology. It controls who connects to the network and encrypts data for privacy.

It is important to note that the security level of a home network is determined by the least capable device and many devices ship with security options disabled as the default. For the most up-to-date protection, a network should include only products capable of WPA2 security. 

Look for Wi-Fi Certified products - Wi-Fi Certified devices are required to implement WPA2 security.

Look for devices with Wi-Fi Protected Set-up - With an action as simple as the push of a button, new devices can be added to an existing network securely.

Create strong passwords - Ensure that your network password is at least eight characters long, does not include any dictionary words or personal information, and is a mix of upper and lower case letters and symbols.

A tip that might make password management easier is to create an acronym from easy-to-remember phrases.

For example, "my daughter's birthday is July 7, 1987" could become the password "MDBi7787."

Be smart about hotspot use - Most public hotspots leave security protections turned off, so while connecting to a public Wi-Fi hotspot is great for general Internet surfing, users should not transmit sensitive data, such bank account login information.

Turn off automatic connecting - Many products such as mobile phones and notebooks are set by default to sense and automatically connect to any available wireless signal. Users should turn off automatic connecting and only connect to and from networks and devices they are familiar with.