Wi-Fi sites across globe wide open to abuse, finds survey

More than half of venues providing public Wi-Fi across the world are not complying with the laws and are leaving their networks open to criminal or terrorist use, according to a survey.

Wi-Fi is the name of wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed internet and network connections to provide wireless local area networks. wi-Fi is the registered trademark of the Wi-FiAlliance

Out of 3,349 venues worldwide, 2,048 said they were running completely open networks or handing out passwords, the survey by UK-based Purple WiFi, a cloud-based social Wi-Fi software firm. Such the Wi-Fi hotspots could be used by criminals without leaving tracks.

UK law requires providers of public Wi-Fi networks to be able to track activity back to the user, but the survey revealed that more than six in ten venues across the globe are not meeting this requirement.

An investigation earlier this year found pornography is accessible via more than half of all free, public WiFi networks in the UK.

Purple WiFi published its research as the company announced the launch of its ''legally compliant'' social Wi-Fi in its free product, with content filtering incorporated as part of its premium service, which costs £25 per month.

Gavin Wheeldon, chief executive of Purple Wi-Fi, said customers were looking for ''peace of mind'' when using public networks.

''There are various laws in the UK, and most other countries in the world, that govern the provision of public Wi-Fi. The main premise is the ability to track activity on a network back to the user.

''Having an open network, giving out a password or any other method of access that doesn't achieve this fundamental tracking function could land the business in considerable trouble if illegal activity takes place on the public Wi-Fi it provides''.

The survey also found that 58 per cent of venues did not have content filtering in place or did not know if they did, meaning explicit or illegal websites could be accessed through the Wi-Fi connection.

Purple WiFi said that while 82 per cent believe they comply with the law, only around 40 per cent actually do so.

Wheeldon said, ''The international Wi-Fi market is expected to be worth more than $93 billion by 2018, but it has offered little in the way of value for the venues that provide Wi-Fi.''