wireless connecting to unsecured network?
356877
You never know what that unsecured network was.  I've done the same thing...found unsecured networks, and I was able to connect to some, and some I couldn't.  Maybe you accessed a wirless access point somewhwere that wasn't connected to the internet.  Who knows.  Also, hotels sometimes have free hotspots for wireless users in the lobby areas, and maybe you were barely picking up the signal but it wasn't strong enough to connect.  If you accessed a pay only wireless connection, a website prompting you to enter a credt card would have appeared.  So many varianbles in your situation.  There's no real specific answer.  Hope I helped at least a little.
800454
G'day,\n\nThe first guy's link is a very good description of the importance of securing the your WLAN.\n\nThe best way to secure your WLAN at this moment is to assign a WPA key in your router.\n\n1. Make sure your computer is using Windows XP SP2.  Go to Start-Settings-Control Panel-Systems and check the version of your operating system.\n2. Login to your router, find the security section whereby you can generate password to secure access to your network.  It usually come in form of WEP or WPA encryption.  WPA is more secure and easier to remember since you can put any meaningful codes you like.  WEP is less secure and only accept hexadecimal characters.  Activate the encryption you like, enter the password and save the change.\n3. The wireless connection is now disconnected.  When you are trying to connect, it will ask for the password.  Enter the password that you have set in the router and voila... you are reconnected.\n\nHope this helps.  Good luck!
820573
In the wireless set up (install the software on your computer) there will be a lot of different options for your wireless network. One of them is encryption options. Select WAP, a name for the network and a password and you are in business. When you try to log on to your network it will prompt you for a "Key", this is the password, enter it and save the setting an you will be fine from there on out.\n\nBut I recommend you read the instructions very carefully.
534435
You will need the following\n* wireless cards for each host\n* wireless access point\n\nYou should also consider enabling WEP or WPA encryption.  Other settings that will help you keep out novice hackers are MAC Filtering, and disabling the broadcast of the SSID.
573409
Your question is really a two-part question.\n\nThe first part of your question is about the safety of your unsecured wireless network. I'm sorry to say that if you're running an unsecured wireless network you're at risk for hackers and leaches. Hackers may try and hack your computer and install viruses or keyloggers, which are programs that will log all the keystrokes you make. If they are successful at this, they can steal personal data. Best scenario: encrypt your wireless network.\n\nAs for communicating with bill paying websites: check for a little lock - it often appears in the lower status bar or in the upper-right corner of the browser window. The site should also start with https:// not just http://. These sites are secured, which means the information is encrypted prior to being transmitted and cannot be seen by a hacker.\n\nHOWEVER, there IS an exception to the above rule, which gets back to my first point: if the hacker is using a program that forges certificates, he CAN steal the data from you by sniffing it off your network. Thus, it is essential that you encrypt your network.\n\nSo the simple answer is yes, it is unsecure to pay bills or even surf the internet with an unsecured wireless network.
337132
Since you said you could connect to your neighbor's network, I'm assuming you have a wireless network. \nOn the computer that won't connect:\n1. Distance/interference?\n2. Any firewalls?\nOn the router:\n1. Any MAC or packet filters?\n2. Updated Drivers?
956030
i'm assuming you mean to use it without permission?\nyes there is, but it's not easy and can take a long long time to crack\ni would suggest the program wepcrack http://wepcrack.sourceforge.net/\nif your wireless card does not support packet injection this can take weeks, depending on how active the wlan is.\ngood luck ;)\nyou really should get permission first though, i live in a cluster of apartment buildings, and a lot of people were trying to get on my wireless network, so i setup a dummy network, and when people log on i steal their passwords and read their IM conversations, some say it's unethical, but they're on _my_ network without my permission and trying to use the network resources that i pay for with my hard earned money.  so just keep that in mind when you're on someone else's network.
447457
if it requires a network key than more than often if you don't already know it, then you probably shouldn't be on the network. If you are authorized, you will need to contact the systems admin and ask for the key since it could any diff combinations as in 64WEP, 128WEP, wpa, tsk or whatever else they have for security on the wireless network.
624754
Wi-Fi can be done safely. However, none of the wi-fi devices will have the right level of security enabled out-of-the-box. If security is important to you, please do the following:\n\n- select a set of devices (access points, wifi cards, etc) that support "WPA2" ("Wi-Fi Protected Access version 2). WPA2 replaced the earlier WPA (version 1) security, which in turn replaced WEP (wireless encryption protocol). Both WEP and WPA have been broken. Despite the similarity in the name, WPA2 is a very different, much more secure technology. \n- make sure you change all passwords in all devices from their default values. This is especially important for your wireless access point and your router (often combined in the very same device). \n- be very selective about which computers (and other devices) you allow on the network. Only allow computers that are current on their operating system patches, run up-to-date anti-virus software, and run a firewall\n\nThese three steps are what makes a wireless network secure. Older methods (e.g. MAC filtering for network access; not broadcasting the SSID) are ineffective, and not necessary when you regard these steps.\n\nMy company advises clients in how to set-up secure networking (wireless and otherwise), and these are the key steps. Combined with careful administration (such as not sharing administrator passwords carelessly), you should be safe.
139816
It sounds like your wireless connection is secured. You need to login to the wireless router and look for the password or passphrase section. See router website for details on this.
39124
You internet connection isn't going down but only the ability of your wireless devices to access the internet. Once you enable encryption on your router you then need to configure you laptop/pc's wireless connection to match the ssid and wep key. Once that is done then your connection should work just fine. Wep isn't the best security but it is a start. If you are going to use it then I would use 128bit and disable broadcast ssid. \n\nAs for configuring your laptop/pc it depends on if you are using an application or depending on windows to control the wireless card. An external card could be using an application. If it is an internal built in card then more than likely it is being controlled by windows. You can go to your network connections and verify. If so then there is an option to configure your wep settings.
659395
to disable the connection:\n  go to the start menu -> settings -> network connections, then right click the correct connection for the wireless network and choose disable
380772
neighbors getting free internet if it isn't password protected
111249
You will have to log into your Access Point to view active client connections.   I suggest you use WPA security, so you do not have to worry about someone hijacking your connection.  I could help you further if you provide me a make and model of your access point\n\nScottsdale, Arizona Computer Repair & USA Phone support\nhttp://www.AFFIRMATIVE-COMPUTER-TECHNICIAN.NET\nAffirmative Computer Services \n*Quality* Computer Repair Services
426992
First you need a Wireless card on your laptop.  You can get 802.11b(old) or 802.11g(latest) cards. Again in the cards either you can get PCMCIA card or USB adapters.  Once you buy one of these you have to install the software which comes with it on your laptop.  Once you connect your wireless card it starts searching for the nearby access points.  Access points are nothing but a wireless routers which can be a T-mobile Hot spot.  On your laptop open the wireless networks wizard and select the accesspoint you want to connect. If it is secured network it will prompt you for the key, once you enter you will be connected to the wireless network.\n\nIn case of T-mobile hotspot it is unsecured network so it won't ask you for the key. However when you try to connect to any website then it will redirect you to T-mobile login page where you need to login and then only you will be able to browse the internet.
55150
I take it you are on a wireless network. You need to adjust your security settings on your computer.
613123
set-up wireless connection