Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) could be putting themselves at risk by not having a secure wireless network (Wi-Fi), according to one expert.
A spokesman for the National Computing Centre (NCC) said today that many SMEs could unknowingly be putting their communications systems in danger of being intercepted by hackers.
Michael Dean of the NCC, an industry body that offers support and advice to its members in the UK IT sector, said today that many people overlook the issue of security when installing a wireless network.
"Wireless itself can be hacked into so you do need to ensure that you have got the right levels of security. People can intercept your communications if you've not got the appropriate levels of security," he warned.
He added that people who sought to hack into a business connection could be able to gather different types of information depending on how the business operates and that organisations need to consider employees that may not be working on company premises.
"There are some organisations that are dealing with particularly sensitive data, whether that's financial or whatever, which needs to be protected," he concluded.
A recent study by the NCC found that 40 per cent of respondents had inadequately secured their Wi-Fi and in some of these cases had not put any security in place at all.
