Two fifths of WLANs in Dublin are open to hackers
Almost 40pc of wireless networks in Dublin do not use encryption technology, leaving them unsecured and vulnerable to being accessed by unauthorised third parties.
A survey by Global Secure Systems (GSS) has uncovered that close to half of all access points in Dublin (522 out of 1,035) are unprotected by encryption; however GSS found that some of these belong to wireless hotspots, which need to remain 'open' in order for customers to use them. Of more concern are the 395 private or business access points (38pc of the total) that were accessible when a connection was attempted, even though they are not intended for public use.
Conducted last month, the survey took in large parts of central Dublin, including the International Financial Service Centre and the areas around Dublin 2 and Dublin 4 that are heavily populated by businesses. It also covered the industrial parks at Citywest Business Campus, Park West Business Park and Sandyford.
