Increasing number of small firms are using wireless networks to improve their office communications, but experts have warned that many are leaving themselves vulnerable to hacking.

Research by the National Computer Cnetre (NCC) found that as many as 40 per cent of firms running wireless connections have left wide open or only partially secured their network.

Michael Dean, spokesperson for the NCC, urged firms to make sure they change their wireless security settings from the factory standard as these are the most likely to be breached by hackers.

"Typically, most security settings will encrypt the data that's being transmitted. But you've got to make sure that those things are actually switched on," he said.
"There are some organisations that are dealing with particularly sensitive data, whether that's financial or whatever, which needs to be protected."

Making use of SSID identification systems in the wireless router should provide a relatively robust barrier to hackers looking to break into a private company network, while it was suggested that employing a professional IT security firm to conduct a 'penetration test' could highlight any security holes.

According to a recent survey by Connect, the two biggest IT headaches for businesses were 'everyday hassles with IT' (37 per cent) and 'security concerns' (32 per cent).