BT wireless internet users are open to hackers, reports
the Daily Telegraph.
Criminals can use easily downloadable software from the internet
to crack passwords and change settings on the company's Home Hub
wireless broadband system, reports the paper.
BT told the paper that the threat was "theoretical" and that
hackers would have to "win the computer cracking equivalent of the
National Lottery" to succeed.
But Paul Vlissidis, technical director of IT consultancy NCC
Group, told the Telegraph that hackers could simply park outside a
victim's house and search for their private network using a
standard laptop to take advantage of the flaw.
BT said the risk was "being blown out of all proportion" and
advised customers to check their
website for advice.
BT said changing the wireless encryption technology to the
WPA
standard rather than the basic
WEP
encryption system, as well as altering passwords, would keep
the hackers out.
NCC argued that most users were unwilling to change the settings
on their networks.
It is understood that customers with version 1.5 or later of the
BT Home Hub system are safe.