Despite Knowing Risks, People Are Banking and Filing Taxes Over Public Wi-Fi Networks

Accessing public Wi-Fi networks comes with its risks -- hackers snoop on network traffic -- but a new study finds 39% of US adults have sent sensitive information, including banking information and social security numbers, over such unsecured networks.

Polling 2,037 adults, a study conducted by Nielsen's Harris Poll for virtual private network company Private Wi-Fi found most people understood such risks, with 88% of respondents mentioning identity theft as a possible threat when using unprotected Wi-Fi networks.

That said, 26% of respondents said they have checked their bank accounts and 19% have paid bills while using public Wi-Fi. In addition, 8% admitted to sending emails containing sensitive information, such as social security numbers or account numbers, over these unprotected networks.