AtlasVPN sells people virtual private networks, a technology upgrade that helps keep data secure and confidential. I’m unsure whether recent data, based on a PC Matic survey, makes them grin at sales opportunities or facepalm in horror.
Update 15/11/2022: As discussed in the Stats and Lies podcast, the 89% figure has been recanted.
89% of internet users in the United States do not password-protect their wi-fi, and 7% don’t even know whether a password exists. MAC address restrictions might be what some people use, but I’m sure, given the rise of the internet of things and, you know, visitors, that passwords are way more common.
9% of people don’t know how to change their password. There is good news, though, while 37% of people have never changed their home wi-fi password, that number is a little lower since last year’s survey.
Why does it matter? AtlasVPN note;
Leaving one’s Wi-Fi unprotected can have many severe consequences for the network owner. For one, virtually anyone nearby can access their Wi-Fi network and use up their internet data and bandwidth, which may lead to extra internet data charges and slower speed.
Malicious actors can use someone’s unsecured Wi-Fi to access illegal content and do some other illicit activities. But it is the network owner that can be held accountable for all the misdemeanors of the perpetrators since any investigation would lead to the owner.
Moreover, the perpetrators can monitor the unencrypted traffic sent across the network, including personal information such as addresses, passwords, financial details, and more, which they can then use to commit fraud.
Via AtlasVPN.
🤖AI Disclosure. Software helped create images in this post. Geek Native's AI Content Policy.
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