Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	May 11, 2012
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	NETWORK 1 SECURITY SOLUTIONS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001065078
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		25,963,094