How to protect yourself in Windows XP
Protecting yourself against these kinds of attacks is quite easy: Never connect to an ad hoc network unless someone you know has set one up and specifically asks you to connect. So no matter where you are, if you see an ad hoc network, don't connect, no matter the name of the network.
Be aware that someone can name an ad hoc network anything they want, so they can even duplicate the name of a legitimate network. For example, if you're at an airport, and the name of the airport's free hot spot is AirNet, someone can set up an ad hoc network with that exact same name. You'd see two networks called AirNet, one being the legitimate one and the other being the scam ad hoc network.
There are other steps you can take to make sure you don't accidentally connect to an ad hoc network created by a scamster. For example, you can make sure that XP never connects to an ad hoc network. To do it:
1. Click the wireless icon in the System Tray.
2. Click "Change advanced settings."
3. Select the Wireless Networks tab.
4. Click "Advanced."
5. On the screen that appears (pictured in the nearby figure), select "Access point (infrastructure) networks only."
6. Click Close, and keep clicking OK until the dialog boxes disappear.
When you're at the "Advanced" screen, you should also make sure the box next to "Automatically connect to non-preferred networks" is not checked. If that box is checked, your PC will connect to any nearby wireless network, without alerting you, which is a serious security risk.
It's also a good idea when you're on the Wireless Networks tab to look at all the wireless networks listed in the Preferred networks area. These are networks that at one time or another you've connected to. Highlight any that you are not absolutely sure are secure, then click Remove. That way, your PC won't attempt to connect to them.
There's more you should do as well. You should also configure your remaining preferred networks so that you don't connect to them automatically. Why do that? Let's say your home network uses the default name it shipped with --- for example, Linksys for a Linksys network.
A scamster can create an ad hoc network called Linksys, and then anyone nearby who has Linksys listed as a preferred network will automatically connect to that ad hoc network. So in the Preferred networks area, highlight each network, select Properties, then click the connection tab, shown in the nearby figure. Uncheck the box next to "Connect when this network is within range" and keep clicking OK until the dialog boxes close.
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