Hyperoptic says a third of Brits steal Wi-Fi

A third of Brits openly admit to stealing their neighbours' Wi-Fi, according to new research from fibre-to-the-property broadband provider Hyperoptic.

Some 29 per cent of respondents across the UK said they've attempted to access a protected wireless network by guessing the password.

However, the survey highlighted significant regional differences in Wi-Fi 'borrowing'. More than half of Londoners said they'd successfully logged on to someone else's connection, compared with just one in five Scots.

Over-55s were found to be the least likely age group to try to steal Wi-Fi from a neighbour, with only ten per cent saying they have done so in the past. This figure rises to more than 40 per cent among those aged between 35 and 44.

Dana Tobak, Managing Director of Hyperoptic, commented: "Hacking your neighbours' Wi-Fi isn't just wrong, it simply won't cut it. 

"As life becomes increasingly digitised, the need for broadband reliability – and for speed – cannot be ignored."