An open Wi-Fi network is a gold mine for criminals. They can steal your identity by accessing personal data or commit crimes using open Internet connections, leaving no trace. The Australia's War Driving Project aims to secure these weak links in Queensland's capital city.

Australian authorities know open Wi-Fi networks allow perpetrators to thrive. So, they are taking matters into their own hands and warning people about the dangers of vulnerable connections. The police are cruising Brisbane neighborhoods with laptops to see if they can connect to the Internet using the signals from nearby homes.

After these networks are identified, the officials mail information to the home owners about how to protect their Wi-Fi connections. WPA2 or Wi-Fi protected access encryption are the best ways to secure the network. The police return to the neighborhoods to make sure households and businesses have secured their Wi-Fi at a later date.

“Having WEP encryption is like using a closed screen door as your sole means of security at home. The WPA or WPA2 security encryption is certainly what we would recommend as it offers a high degree of protection,” Detective Superintendent Brian Hay said on the Queensland Police Service website.

SEE ALSO: Australian Police Save Residents From Their Unsecure WiFi Networks

The project launched last week to raise awareness of National Consumer Fraud Week. Organizers of the week-long campaign strive to make consumers more aware about the dangers of identify theft, scams and fraud.

Australia's War Driving Project initially kicked off in 2009. Police hope to especially stop criminals who geo-tag open networks and sell the Wi-Fi networks to other criminals.

How do you protect your Wi-Fi network? Sound off in the comments.