Image Gallery: Don't fall victim to the "Free WiFi" scam

Preston Gralla

 

January 19, 2007 (Computerworld)

Editor's Note: This article is an image gallery meant to accompany our story Don't fall victim to the 'Free Wi-fi' scam. By mistake, this image gallery's URL was sent out in some e-mail newsletters in place of the main story's URL. We apologize for the error. Please click through to the main story for the full text. Windows XP displays the details of every nearby wireless network, including whether it's an ad hoc network. In this screen, the Free Airport WiFi network is an ad hoc network. Return to Don't fall victim to the "Free WiFi" scam

 

Remove any unfamiliar networks from the Preferred networks list Return to Don't fall victim to the "Free WiFi" scam

 

Make sure to tell your PC not to make any automatic connections to wireless networks Return to Don't fall victim to the "Free WiFi" scam

 

The only way to distinguish between ad hoc and normal wireless hot spots is to look at the network icon on this screen. An ad hoc network's icon is made up of several PCs; a normal network is made up of one PC.