More than a fifth of university students in the UK have had tried hacking, a research by security firm Tufin Technologies claims.

Tufin Technologies surveyed 1000 university students aged between 18 and 21, and found that 37 per cent had hacked Facebook accounts, 26 per cent e-mail accounts and 10 per cent online shopping accounts.

The survey also found around 84 per cent respondents saying that hacking was wrong, but that did not stop all of them from attempting it.

There was no gender bias as equal number of boys and girls attempted hacking, while eighteen per cent of the students said that hacking was an easy task.

Study by Tufin Technologies also showed that 46 per cent of students with social networking or email accounts became victims to hacking.

Tufin Technologies’ Vice President of Products, Marketing & Business Development, Shaul Efraim, said that more than one in three students hacked someone’s system for fun, while a quarter said they were just curious.

Speaking on the findings, Efraim said, “It is clear we have a smart new generation emerging who understand how to get around computer systems – some are doing it just for fun others with slightly more sinister intent.”

The e-crime specialist with the Association of Chief Police Officers, Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Hyde, said that hacking was illegal and it’s imperative to educate youngsters about the bad effects of hacking.