Hasta La Gadget!

You know those days when your Internet is down and you latch on to your neighbor’s unsecured network to stay online? You are not alone. In fact, a lot of people do that not just on the occasional off day, but as their primary source of Internet.

According to a new study from the Wi-Fi Alliance, 32% of people connect to a Wi-Fi network that does not belong to them, usually a neighbor or nearby place of business. “The reality is that many consumers have not taken the steps to protect themselves.”

The biggest culprit is likely the fact that most Americans simply don’t know how to encrypt their connection, and they’re too intimidated to figure it out. The reality is, though, that it’s easier than ever these days to tighten up that router’s security. Most people just assume it’s a big hassle.

Of course, as the study notes, it’s dangerous to latch onto someone else’s unsecured network because that person can track your online activity, etc. But it doesn’t take a genius to know that’s the rare exception. But hey, this statistic means a lot of people who aren’t especially computer savvy are still snatching up wireless routers and getting online. Maybe there’s a silver lining here?

Via Gather