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Playing along: Shaikh Abid Abbas managed to access an unsecured Wi-Fi network, which was traced to Lotus Tower in Juhu Scheme. pic/Rita Ghose

First it was the terrorists, who misused the unsecured Wi-Fi networks to send threat e-mails, and now it is the youngsters who are using their mobile phones and PlayStations to access free Internet on complete anonymity.

Since a PlayStation costs around Rs 8,000, which is much cheaper than a laptop, youngsters are using it to send e-mails, surf porn sites and download games.

Shaikh Abid Abbas (15), a resident of Juhu, found an easy way out to download games for his PlayStation after his parents restricted his Internet usage at home. Using his PlayStation Portable (PSP), he managed to access an unsecured Wi-Fi network, which was traced to Lotus Tower in Juhu Scheme.
 
It was only on Monday that his parents found out. His father Abbas Shaikh said that he would write to the Cyber Crime Cell to inform them of the unsecured Wi-Fi network and request an action for the safety of youngsters.

Pornography

According to Vijay Mukhi, president, Foundation of Internet Security and Technology (FIST), youngsters are using these unsecured Wi-Fi networks to view pornography, send e-mails and participate in networking sites.

"Kids are a bigger menace than terrorists. Using insecure Wi-Fi accounts gives them the anonymity to surf sites against their parents' wishes. With around 15,000 unsecured Wi-Fi accounts in the city, we need laws against people who use them. I will also write to CM Vilasrao Deshmukh, appealing for appropriate action," said Mukhi.

Abid said, "These unsecured Wi-Fi networks are a problem and the police must take action to stop terrorists from misusing it. My PSP can be easily used to send e-mails and access various sites with total anonymity. I don't have an e-mail address, but my friends use my PSP to access e-mail."

Sanjay Mohite, DCP (Enforcement), said, "We are doing our best to spread cyber safety awareness among children, parents and teachers. We have conducted seminars across various schools for around 20,000 students."

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