American people are “borrowing” their neighbor’s Wi-Fi connection without any permission and asking. According to a new national survey about 32% of the polled say they mooch a neighbor's unencrypted Wi-Fi connection. That's nearly double the 18% who said they borrowed Wi-Fi in a 2008 poll.

"The reality is that many consumers have not taken the steps to protect themselves," said Kelly Davis-Felner, marketing director at the Wi-Fi Alliance, a non-profit trade group that commissioned the surveys.

While some people are generous enough to share their Wi-Fi hookup with neighbors this may end up with personal data stolen because there are too many nosy neighbors. A free, easy-to-use eavesdropping tool called Firesheep has been downloaded more than 1 million times since last year.

"With Firesheep, almost anyone can effectively hack into your Facebook, Twitter and other accounts," says Randy Abrams, director of technical education at anti-virus firm ESET. "Almost anyone has the skill to use Firesheep to be a nosy neighbor."

Security experts recommend users to configure their wireless networks so as to prevent snoopers from eavesdropping.

"But much like the seat belts in your car, you won't get protected unless you use it," Davis-Felner says.

Meantime, many people in America still have wrong perception of Wi-Fi. "People who don't understand the technology simply have faith," says Chet Wisniewski, senior security adviser at network security firm Sophos.

The widespread, seemingly innocuous use of public Wi-Fi hot spots doesn't help as it tends to convey a false sense of security, he says.