Hackers could exploit flaw in every wifi connection

Every wifi connection in the world is vulnerable to a security flaw that hackers could use to spy on internet traffic, researchers have said.
The vulnerability allows attackers to see passwords, credit card numbers and photographs sent over the network and release viruses into any device on it.

Mobile phones, tablets with Google’s Android 6.0 operating system and computers using Linux are particularly at risk.

The flaw is the first to be identified in encryption techniques that have been used to secure wifi networks for 14 years.

An academic at the University of Leuven in Flanders discovered the vulnerability by accident while working on another paper.

The Wi-Fi Alliance, an industry body, said it was already working with providers on software updates.