Wireless laptops at risk from hackers

Laptop users are revealing their company secrets every time they use the internet wirelessly, experts warned today.

Checks in restaurants, stations and cafes found dozens of unprotected computers hackers could access.

Richard Hollis, head of security firm Orthus, believes many companies are already capitalising on the security glitches to hack into competitors' PCs. He said: "There is competitive intelligence being gathered."

Wireless internet points have become increasingly popular in the last year and are common in coffee shops and even pubs in London.

However, if the network is unsecured, anyone logging on is able to see the files of any connected computer. Using software easily downloadable from the internet, it is also possible to eavesdrop electronically on internet users, capturing passwords and financial details.

Mr Hollis said: "I'm walking into companies and commercial hotspots that are finding things on their networks they didn't put there and it's scaring the hell out of them. What if someone used such a network to attack a bank? The company would be liable."