According to a new report, computer hackers are stealing sensitive information from company executives by penetrating the Wi-Fi networks of luxury hotels. Kaspersky Lab, a Moscow-based security-software group, said that so-called ‘dark-hotel’ espionage has been going on for at least four years.

The report says that almost 90% of cases occur in Japan, Taiwan, China, Russia and South Korea, with US executives the most targeted. “The ‘infection count’ numbers are in the thousands. The more interesting targets include top executives from the USA doing business and investing in the Asia-Pacific region.”

The hackers compromise hotel Wi-Fi networks and then trick executives into downloading malicious software that can allow their information to be accessed remotely. The report says: “Victims lose sensitive information — most often the intellectual property of the business entities that they represent. After the operation, the attackers carefully delete their tools from the hotel network and go back into hiding.”

The most popular targets are chief executives, senior vice-presidents, sales and marketing directors and top research staff at companies in the electronics, defence, automotive and pharmaceutical industries.

The Kaspersky report says: “The risks can be mitigated by using a ‘virtual’ private network that protects data. Travellers should be cautious about software updates and should use software with protection against a broad range of threats, in addition to viruses.”