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Some 12% of Consumers 'Borrow' Unsecured Wi-Fi

Posted by Zonk on from the other-88-percent-are-lying dept.

alphadogg writes "Despite the fact that it's often considered an illegal act, a sizeable percentage of the UK/US internet-using population 'borrows' unsecured Wi-Fi access. This is according to a study conducted by the group Accenture. 'The Accenture study found that computer users are still engaging in some unsafe computing practices. Nearly half of all respondents said that they used the same password for all of their online accounts, and only a quarter of them have ever encrypted files on their computers.'" My guess is the actual figure is higher than that.

7 of 469 comments (clear)

  1. news.. by thermian · · Score: 5, Funny

    This just in:
    People on the internet 'steal' stuff they should pay for.

    --
    A learning experience is one of those things that say, 'You know that thing you just did? Don't do that.' - D. Adams
    1. Re:news.. by AlterRNow · · Score: 5, Funny

      Note to self:
      Don't forget wallet at this persons house or let my girlfriend visit it alone.

      :)

      --
      The disappearing pencil trick. Let me show you it.
  2. Gotta Remember, They're Users by Toad-san · · Score: 5, Funny

    Had a lady bring her laptop into our computer repair shop. "I can't get the Internet any more."

    After extensive questioning (using very small words), I determined:

    Her expensive laptop worked fine.

    Her TCP/IP settings, web browser, etc. all worked just fine.

    The wireless components and setup worked just fine.

    What was NOT working fine was her neighbor's wireless access point. Apparently that fine fellow had either turned it off, lost his own internet connection, encrypted his WAP, or whatever.

    She never knew she was using his connection, connecting to his WAP. She thought that, since the stick-on on her laptop said it had wireless and could reach the internet .. that it was a godz-given fact that, anywhere she went, she'd have internet access.

    "But it works on campus."

    Sigh .. more explanations.

    Half an hour of my life, gone. And I don't even want to think about the brain damage.

    1. Re:Gotta Remember, They're Users by scubamage · · Score: 5, Funny

      Sadly only a handful ever progress past that point.

  3. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  4. Re:WTF? by BrotherBeal · · Score: 5, Funny

    Someone's really trying hard to make an article out of nothing. Just wait a while and the editors will make two.
    --
    I'm disabling ads until because I choose not to reward redesigns that are less usable than "view source".
  5. Re:And don't paint it just like every other car... by TamMan2000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    WEP will keep out the non-resourceful and the lazy but that's about it. Isn't that almost everyone?

    --
    "I'll have a Guinness, no wait, make that a Coors Light" -Grad student I work with, who shall remain anonymous...