British people are using Wi-Fi hotspots to watch porn in public

Security experts say they risk exposing themselves to hackers

According to the report, Londoners are most likely to view NSFW content on public networks (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

One in 12 British people use public Wi-Fi to access pornographic content, according to a new report.

Some of the most popular places to watch pornography in public are restaurants, train stations, offices and libraries, though the street is also a common choice.

Norton by Symantec has warned public Wi-Fi users that they risk exposing themselves to hackers, unless they start taking proper precautions.

The security firm surveyed 15,532 adults across 15 countries, and found that 84 per cent of British people use public Wi-Fi “in a way which could put their personal and private information at risk”.

Two in three people said they thought their personal information was safe when using public Wi-Fi, while 55 per cent said they couldn’t tell whether a public Wi-Fi network was secure or not.

Despite this uncertainty, less than 20 per cent use a virtual private network (VPN) to protect themselves.

“There is a deep divide between what people think is safe or private when using public Wi-Fi versus the reality,” said Nick Shaw, the vice president and general manager of Norton by Symantec.

“What someone thinks is private on their personal device can easily be accessed by hackers through unsecure Wi-Fi networks or even apps with privacy vulnerabilities.”

45 per cent of people said the most important reason to stay connected was to use a GPS or map app to get around, and 35 per cent said they want to ensure they can share their updates and photos on social media.

However, the use of public Wi-Fi for pornographic purposes was perhaps the most eye-opening finding.

According to the report, Londoners are most likely to view NSFW content on public networks, and the most popular places for watching pornography through a public network are hotels, hostels or holiday rentals (47 per cent), cafés or restaurants (26 per cent), airports (25 per cent), work (24 per cent), train or bus stations (19 per cent), the street (18 per cent), libraries (18 per cent) and public toilets (17 per cent).

“Whether it’s the password to their bank account or their internet browsing habits, people will share – and do – almost anything on public Wi-Fi,” said Norton by Symantec.

The firm recommends the use of a VPN “from a trusted vendor”, and cutting down on the information you share online.

“Think twice before entering any type of personal information – from passwords, to financial details and photos – over public Wi-Fi networks,” it says.

“Even if you’re not actively sharing the information, your device may be doing so for you. Many devices are programmed to automatically seek connections to other devices on the same network, which could cause your files to be vulnerable. Be sure to disable sharing on your devices to ensure what’s yours stays yours.”