Many US WiFi users still open to intruders —study

While nearly 90 percent of Wi-Fi users are making progress in security, many still leave their networks open to intruders, according to new research conducted for the Wi-Fi Alliance. The US survey by Wakefield Research showed 86 percent of Wi-Fi users have taken basic privacy and security steps in setting up their access points and routers, according to a report on PC World. But PC World said the survey also found that while 97 percent of respondents said they believe the data on their devices and networks is "safe and secure," they scored an average of 66 percent when asked about a series of recommended security/privacy steps that they have taken. Conducted last August with 1,000 respondents in the US, the survey found 59 percent failed to use passwords meeting basic security criteria, while 62 percent have auto-sharing turned off. Only 18 percent use virtual private networking (VPN) when sharing a wireless hotspot, it added. The Wi-Fi Alliance recommends enabling WPA2, creating strong Wi-Fi network passwords (at least 8 characters long, with a mix of letters and symbols) and changing them regularly. It also recommends turning off automatic sharing on devices to avoid connecting to suspect networks. Recent survey PC World said the study results echoed those of another recent survey on cell phone and texting use while driving by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. In that study, 95 percent of respondents said they view other drivers emailing or texting while driving to be a danger to their own health, Yet 35 percent of those same drivers acknowledged having sent or read a text or email message in the past month. According to the survey, 88 percent of drivers feel talking on a phone is a threat to safety, yet two-thirds admitted to having talked on a cellphone while driving in the past 30 days. That Web-based survey was conducted in June and involved some 3,100 U.S. residents. — TJD, GMA News