How to connect to computer-to-computer network?

[Frank Dreyfus]

Hi,

I was away from home and tried to piggyback on someone elses wireless
connection.

I found two "Unsecured computer-to-computer networks". One was even
named "Free Public WiFi". Signal strength to both was good (4 bars and 3
bars).

When I tried to connect, Windows took a long time and then said I was
Disconnected. However, in the text it said I WAS connected. In actual
fact I was NOT.

What's the deal with these computer-to-computer networks? How do you
connect?

One strange thing is that when I got back home those two networks still
show up! I've tried refreshing the network list but can't get rid of
them. The "normal" networks (not computer-to-computer) have changed to
reflect the new location. What is happening?

Thanks,

Frank

 

[Lem]

Hi,

I was away from home and tried to piggyback on someone elses wireless
connection.

I found two "Unsecured computer-to-computer networks". One was even
named "Free Public WiFi". Signal strength to both was good (4 bars and 3
bars).

When I tried to connect, Windows took a long time and then said I was
Disconnected. However, in the text it said I WAS connected. In actual
fact I was NOT.

What's the deal with these computer-to-computer networks? How do you
connect?

One strange thing is that when I got back home those two networks still
show up! I've tried refreshing the network list but can't get rid of
them. The "normal" networks (not computer-to-computer) have changed to
reflect the new location. What is happening?

Thanks,

Frank

A "computer-to-computer" wireless network (sometimes called an "ad hoc"
wireless network) is probably not something that you should be trying to
access. Calling such a network "Free Public WiFi" sounds to me awfully
like a honeypot, set up either to detect, deflect, or in some manner
counteract attempts at unauthorized use of information systems,* or
(worse) to attract unwary users who then potentially make the entire
contents of their computers available to the owner of the "free" network.

Even if it was legitimate, an ad hoc network easily could not be
connected to the Internet. For example, I've often used an ad hoc
wireless connection to print from a laptop to a wireless-enabled
printer. Anyone in radio range would be able see that network, but even
if it wasn't encrypted and they were able to connect, they wouldn't get
very far (the laptop is firewalled and the printer is, well, just a
printer).

If I were you, I'd do a thorough scan for malware -- and keep an eye on
your accounts for a while as well.

As far as removing these entries is concerned, assuming that you're
using Windows XP, if you are viewing the available wireless networks
from the "Choose a wireless network" page, click the link on the left to
"Change the order of preferred networks." In the list of preferred
networks, select the one(s) you don't want and click "Remove."

* See "Honeypot" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeypot_(computing)

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

 

[Frank Dreyfus]

A "computer-to-computer" wireless network (sometimes called an "ad hoc"
wireless network) is probably not something that you should be trying to
access

Thanks Lem!


Frank

 

[Lem]

Thanks Lem!


Frank

YW

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
People get attacked to the words.
By taking a Big Magic Marker and Writing on your car in big letters Taxi,
you do not become a legal Car service.
Any one can name his Wireless source with any Alpha numeric combination and
the verbal meaning of it is meaning less. In addition there are security
methods that might not reflect in announced verbal strings either. I.e. it
might be detected as open and it is actually Not.
In many locals logging without permission to a Wireless Network (even if it
is open) that is not yours might be a criminal offense.
Depending on how your own data is configured, One puts himself at risk when
logging to other Networks too.
In sum, One should use known open sources (café, Hotels, etc.), and avoid
"Leeching" to other Networks.
Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[Ben M. Schorr - MVP (OneNote)]

Lem is exactly right. And here some more info on the "Free Public
Wi-Fi" thing (which I avoid studiously):
http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2006/09/free_public_wif.html

--
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, MVP
Roland Schorr & Tower
http://www.rolandschorr.com
http://www.officeforlawyers.com

 

[john r]

thatnks - that was great.

A "computer-to-computer" wireless network (sometimes called an "ad hoc"
wireless network) is probably not something that you should be trying to
access. Calling such a network "Free Public WiFi" sounds to me awfully
like a honeypot, set up either to detect, deflect, or in some manner
counteract attempts at unauthorized use of information systems,* or
(worse) to attract unwary users who then potentially make the entire
contents of their computers available to the owner of the "free" network.

Even if it was legitimate, an ad hoc network easily could not be
connected to the Internet. For example, I've often used an ad hoc
wireless connection to print from a laptop to a wireless-enabled
printer. Anyone in radio range would be able see that network, but even
if it wasn't encrypted and they were able to connect, they wouldn't get
very far (the laptop is firewalled and the printer is, well, just a
printer).

If I were you, I'd do a thorough scan for malware -- and keep an eye on
your accounts for a while as well.

As far as removing these entries is concerned, assuming that you're
using Windows XP, if you are viewing the available wireless networks
from the "Choose a wireless network" page, click the link on the left to
"Change the order of preferred networks." In the list of preferred
networks, select the one(s) you don't want and click "Remove."

* See "Honeypot" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeypot_(computing)

--
Lem -- MS-MVP

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm