No protection from wireless hackers

MORE than half of central Manchester businesses' wireless Internet networks are vulnerable to attack.

Hackers could easily break into the networks to introduce viruses or read personal and other secret information.

In a drive-by check, a team of ethical hackers using a basic laptop located 286 separate networks in and around the city centre without leaving their car. Of these only 123 - 43 per cent - had any form of encryption.

This means that the rest could be accessed from vehicles or coffee bars around the city leaving everything from confidential personnel records to business sensitive information open to theft and abuse.