Hi

I have a wireless network, which I use with 64 encryption, our laptops connect fine to it.

Recently, someone, somewhere has bought a new wireless router, and hasn't set up any kind of encryption, and hence my laptop will sometime attach to this router even though the signal is worse.

I thought it was possible to set XP to only connect to one SSID, and not try to connect to another one if it finds one?

Hey its not mine is it?

Use it to download dodgy stuff is my advice:D Or better still, set up encryption so they can't use it themselves:D

Hey its not mine is it?

Use it to download dodgy stuff is my advice:D Or better still' date=' set up encryption so they can't use it themselves:D[/quote']

i definitely like the idea of securing it for them. If you do go into their router settings. turn off the broadcast of ssid, then remove the connection from your wireless list. it wont find it again after that

I have actually logged into it, and turned off the wireless capability, but it always reappears a day or two later

I have actually logged into it, and turned off the wireless capability, but it always reappears a day or two later

Change the SSID to "please secure me properly"

Must be very close or a better router than mine (very cheap 3Com). I have trouble seeing mine from some rooms in the same house - built of good solid 1920's semi-engineering bricks

Could you not set the advanced properties in your wireless connection to only connect automatically to yours and not the 'foreign' network?

Although perhaps you can't do that unless you are using the Windows Wireless Network Control Panel rather than one specific to the adaptor you have installed on the laptop.

Hi

I got this situation last year. Not only was the connection unsecure, but they had set all the C drives as shared, so I could have a nose around. Finished it by printing to their system printer:

"To whom it may concern. Just a brief note to say SECURE YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK! If you wont do this, at least put something interesting on your hard drives."

Shortly afterwards, network seemed to mysterioulsy dissapear:D

The temptation to alter some word document content was just sooo tempting.

Chris

Change the SSID to "please secure me properly"

Good Idea

Hi

I got this situation last year. Not only was the connection unsecure' date=' but they had set all the C drives as shared, so I could have a nose around. Finished it by printing to their system printer:

"To whom it may concern. Just a brief note to say SECURE YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK! If you wont do this, at least put something interesting on your hard drives."

Shortly afterwards, network seemed to mysterioulsy dissapear:D

The temptation to alter some word document content was just sooo tempting.

Chris[/quote']

If it reappears I will have some fun then, that may well be the answer

Must be very close or a better router than mine (very cheap 3Com). I have trouble seeing mine from some rooms in the same house - built of good solid 1920's semi-engineering bricks

Could you not set the advanced properties in your wireless connection to only connect automatically to yours and not the 'foreign' network?

Although perhaps you can't do that unless you are using the Windows Wireless Network Control Panel rather than one specific to the adaptor you have installed on the laptop.

I have an Acer Centrino Laptop, and have never installed any wireless software on it, and I was looking around XP for any of those kind of settings you are suggesting.

Can't XP help in this situation then?

Martin

I have an Acer Centrino Laptop' date=' and have never installed any wireless software on it, and I was looking around XP for any of those kind of settings you are suggesting.

Can't XP help in this situation then?

Martin[/quote']

If you use a wireless network adaptor that supports the XP Wireless Zero Configuration service you can use that to administer lists of preferred networks and then make sure that your settings are configured NOT to automatically connect to non-preferred networks.

Apparently not all adaptors will work with this (the Belkin USB one I use seems to). If it does you get an 'Enable Windows Zero Configuration' choice when you right-click the adaptor's utility icon on the taskbar.

Type 'wireless' into the XP help search and look at 'set up automatic wireless network configuration' and the related pages for more info.

If you use a wireless network adaptor that supports the XP Wireless Zero Configuration service you can use that to administer lists of preferred networks and then make sure that your settings are configured NOT to automatically connect to non-preferred networks.

Apparently not all adaptors will work with this (the Belkin USB one I use seems to). If it does you get an 'Enable Windows Zero Configuration' choice when you right-click the adaptor's utility icon on the taskbar.

Type 'wireless' into the XP help search and look at 'set up automatic wireless network configuration' and the related pages for more info.

Thanks, what your saying actually rings a bell. Will have a proper look this evening.

My neighbour has just installed a BT Voyager wireless router with no security set too. I like the idea I have some sort of backup if my DSL service goes down, so I won't be informing them of their mistake.

They haven't even changed the router password!

you can stop a the wireless zero config service which should stop it from changing to their access point

I have actually logged into it, and turned off the wireless capability, but it always reappears a day or two later

If they're that determined you may as well just go ahead and cancel your broadband subscription now...

If they're that determined you may as well just go ahead and cancel your broadband subscription now...

And of course be prepared for jail if they ever find out. some bloke got jailed for this a couple of months back

And of course be prepared for jail if they ever find out. some bloke got jailed for this a couple of months back

Jailed for using someone elses broadband connection via wireless? Perhaps it was more to do with what they were doing with the connection? It's not exactly crime of the century unless you have a facist labour government in power for 3 terms that seems to let everyone run around with guns selling crack while wearing electronic tags.

Oops.

I was at a hotel last week on a course for work and I couldnt get the dialup to work on my laptop, I tried my wireless card and picked up 2 unsecured networks and just used those. I'll probably get life for that, which is umm... 4 years playing snooker if you kill someone, (longer if your an ex Tory minister and tell porky pies).

And of course be prepared for jail if they ever find out. some bloke got jailed for this a couple of months back

Seriously? What, in this country? Assuming they weren't parked outside using a laptop it doesn't seem any different to sitting in your back garden reading by the neighbours' security light. Even if you cause them losses from download limit charges they are still broadcasting into your property after all...

...4 years playing snooker if you kill someone, (longer if your an ex Tory minister and tell porky pies).

If you're a Tory MP you only get 2 years in an open prison for stealing £500,000 from the Daily Star, and you still get to sit in the House of Lords. Sounds like a good deal to me :rubchin:

Jailed for using someone elses broadband connection via wireless? Perhaps it was more to do with what they were doing with the connection? It's not exactly crime of the century unless you have a facist labour government in power for 3 terms that seems to let everyone run around with guns selling crack while wearing electronic tags.

Oops.

I was at a hotel last week on a course for work and I couldnt get the dialup to work on my laptop' date=' I tried my wireless card and picked up 2 unsecured networks and just used those. I'll probably get life for that, which is umm... 4 years playing snooker if you kill someone, (longer if your an ex Tory minister and tell porky pies).[/quote']

tis true. He got jailed for theft and some sort of hacking loop hole. I reality he did used to pull up outside this guys house everynight and sit there with his laptop. It was nothing to do with the stuff he was looking at on the net. It's the fact that he was sitting on someone elses network unauthorised and stealing resources.

EDIT: the guy was in america that got put in jail, but you might want to look at this from the uk

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4721723.stm

house everynight and sit there with his laptop.

i was doing this at 2am this morning as my broadband wasn't working and needed to dial into work, a quick drive round the block and there were around 30 networks to log onto!

i was doing this at 2am this morning as my broadband wasn't working and needed to dial into work, a quick drive round the block and there were around 30 networks to log onto!

the police are on their way

the police are on their way

never mind, at least I won't have to go to work... Get fed, get a free xbox, free gym membership, the joys of being in prison.

never mind, at least I won't have to go to work... Get fed, get a free xbox, free gym membership, the joys of being in prison.

Can I come visit? sounds ace.