British internet users are more interested in being able to access their favourite online services at high speeds than they are in being able to do so securely, according to a new study from SecureAuth Corporation.

Seventy one per cent of respondents said that they would opt for a faster internet connection over one which was better protected against hackers. Sixty per cent said that they would be happy for private data to be shared on a public Wi-Fi hotspot, according to IT Pro Portal.

There is a gender divide in terms of security awareness, with 70 per cent of women describing themselves as conscious of the need to take precautions in order to carry out activities such as safe shopping online.

The over-35s are also a little more hesitant to use online services because of fears about security, suggesting that it is young men who are most complacent about this issue.

In particular, it is public Wi-Fi use which is where internet users are most likely to expose themselves to exploitation by malicious third parties. Forty nine per cent said that they make e-commerce purchases via hotspots shared with other users, while 36 per cent said they access online banking services while connected to public Wi-Fi.

Experts argue that carrying out any action which involves the transmission of sensitive financial information, including payment card details, over public Wi-Fi is not sensible. So the best way to carry out safe shopping online is to do so either over a wired connection or when connected to a trusted, secure wireless network at home.

Report spokesperson, Craig Lund, said that Wi-Fi hotspots are prevalent across the UK, but claimed that without an awareness of the security risks they pose, people could continue to suffer from digital fraud.