Research has shown that a large number of internet users in the UK are putting themselves at risk of a security breach known as ‘piggybacking’ because they have not secured their wireless internet connection.

Price comparison website moneysupermarket.com’s research showed that five million people admited to using someone else’s wireless connection without permission in the last 12 months.

One in seven people fail to secure their wireless connection with a suitable password according to the study, which means that not only can outher people steal the bradband thy pay for, but they also run the risk of having bank details stolen, and having illegal content downloaded on their connection.

Rob Barnes, head of Broadband and mobile phones at the firm said: “People are learning to be safe online but those using wireless can undo all that by leaving their network unprotected.

“An unsecured internet connection is just the same as leaving your front door open.”

Last week, a study by IT security firm ScanSafe found the number of online security blocks carried out in July totalled more than for the whole of 2007.