COMPUTER users are urged to protect themselves against a new wave of potential cybercrime.

Surfers should use up-to-date virus scanners, firewalls and encryption to avoid the 'evil twins' using the wireless 'wi-fi' technology.

An 'evil twin' is a bogus base station, attracting victims with wireless internet access.

Victims think their laptops or mobile phones are connected to bona fide wireless internet connections.

They may then transmit bank details or other personal data, not suspecting that they are being intercepted by cyber criminals.

Often users are unaware they have been duped until well after the incident has occurred.

Ardi Kolah, of Cranfield University at the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham, near Swindon said: "This is only a potential threat, there have been no cases yet. Wireless equipment tends to be set-up with minimal protection and people take no further steps to protect themselves.

"Do not give out sensitive information while wireless surfing."

Dr Phil Nobles, a wireless Internet and cybercrime expert at Shrivenham, said: "Cyber criminals don't have to be that clever to carry out such an attack.

"Wireless networks are based on radio signals so they can be easily detected by unauthorised users tuning into the same frequency."