Police warn about wireless risks

People with unsecured wireless broadband risk having their connection hacked and the possibility of being accused of any online offences that may be carried out by the trespasser.

If this happens they face losing their PC for long periods while police computer forensic teams examine the PC.

The warning from the police and lawyers comes after two people were given cautions by West Mercia Police last month for dishonestly obtaining a communications service. Both arrests were made after police were tipped off by members of the public who saw the two people acting suspiciously.

A police representative told Computeractive: "We don't think there was anything sinister going on, they were just using the internet.

"But it could have been much worse. If they were searching for illegal pornography, that would have been logged on the account of the owner of the wireless network.

"Residents with open Wifi should be aware that any offences could be traced back via to that broadband connection and that the user's home will be the first place police will visit."

This warning was backed up by technology lawyer Struan Robertson, of Pinsent Masons.

He said: "The illegal acts of a stranger will be traced to the network owner, who stands a good chance of losing his computer while it undergoes forensic examination to clear his name."

Andrew Ferguson of website Thinkbroadband.com said he believed that unauthorised use of networksprobably happens more often than users think.

"While in most cases nothing malicious will happen, people should always secure their wireless network.

"You must enable encryption and the preferred methods are WPA2 and WPA, but remember not to use a key phrase that can be easily guessed, such as family names or an address.

"Older WEP encryption can be cracked but even that is better than nothing. The best protection, if going away, is to turn off the wireless router completely."

The latest arrests which happened in Redditch are relatively rare however. The last time anyone has run up against the law governing wireless internet access was in 2005.

Then a man was found guilty of the same offence, which is covered by the 2003 Communications Act and fined £500.

PC Tony Humphreys of West Mercia Police said: "We want people to be vigilant regarding their broadband connections. Wireless networks don't stop at the walls of your home."