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slang9

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Free Public Wi Fi

When setting up new laptops inside our network, I sometimes see
Free Public Wi Fi advertising with a strong signal
It's clearly labeled as an unsecured computer to computer network, but I'm afraid that it's from a user that has a bot running on their laptop and doesn't know it.
Should I be concerned?
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dragonjim
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One way to check would be to get on a computer that is not mission critical and see if you can access your network through that unsecured wireless.
Avatar of johnb6767
It is perfectly normal on Intel WIFI Cards...I had a link to help disable it, but I will haev to see if I can find it....

I wouldnt be concerned with it...

You might go to the NIC's properties, and see if you can disable ADHOC connections...
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slang9

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I will check it out. This is what I'm worried about. I've read articles that the "Free Public Wi Fi" is actually software that will capture all your traffic as it travels through the shared connection. It's possible that a laptop from an employee or a consultant has had that software planted on it, and it captures and transmits data to a third party. The user that is advertising probably doesn't know that his laptop is a zombie. Maybe paranoid, but I would rather be too cautious than have to explain a security breach.
What brands of cards is it?

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Intel board on a Lenovo thinkpad
Yea, the Intel Cards are known for htat...Happened on several hundred of ours, with no adverse affects....I will see if I an find the mod to disable it on those cards....