Don't Broadcast! Turn off Ad-Hoc Wireless.

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Go to Windows XP section
Go to Windows XP section

Connecting to the Kenyon Residential Wireless Network

 

 

Ad-Hoc Wireless, sometimes called computer-to-computer networking, is a system where a laptop can become a wireless access point for other computers. It is used by hackers with malicious intent to hijack your computer and use it for their own purposes. Play it safe, turn off ad-hoc wireless on your laptop.

Windows Vista

The setting to "Automatically connect to non-preferred networks" that is found in Windows XP is not found in Vista. This operating system always requires manual connections to ad-hoc networks. However, this does not mean that you can safely ignore this type of networking. In Vista, it is much harder to tell if your computer has connected to an ad-hoc (sometimes called computer to computer) network. Some viruses have been reported to change your network connection so that your computer will broadcast to other computers to spread the virus.

 

Vista connection icons

 

 

Turn off the Vista Network Discovery feature (which allows other computers to see you on a network) when you’re at hotspots. Vista will switch it off automatically if you designate a connection as ‘Public’, but alternatively you can disable it manually in the ‘View Network Status and Tasks’ control panel.

Macintosh OS X

 

  1. Open the System Preferences. Select Sharing.

     

    Open the System preferences. Select Sharing.

  2. Click on the Internet button. Verify both the Built-in Ethernet and Airport sections of Share your connection from: to be sure the port options are NOT checked. If Internet Sharing is ON, click the Stop button to turn it off. Turning Internet Sharing off will NOT affect File sharing such as Rendezvous.

     

    Sharing window

 

Windows XP

Note: Windows 2000 instuctions will vary from these pictures.

  1. Click Start, click Control Panel.

    Click on the Start button, click on Control Panel in the menu
  2. Click Network and Internet Connections.

    Pick the Network and Internet Connections category
  3. Under the section labeled or pick a Control Panel icon, click on Network Connections.

    Choose Network Connections in the Control Panel, Network and Internet Connections catagory
  4. Click on your Wireless Network Connection icon to select it.

    Click on the Wireless Network Connection to select it, then click on the Change settings of this connection


    Look on the left side of the page in the Network Tasks section and select Change settings of this connection.
  5. The Wireless Network Connection Properties window will open. At the top there should be three tabs: General, Wireless Networks and Advanced.

    Click the Wireless Networks tab of the Wireless Network Connection Properties window


    If there are only General and Advanced tabs, then Windows is NOT managing your wireless card. You will need to set the management utility that is associated with your card to NOT manage the wireless network settings.
  6. Click on the Wireless Networks tab. On this page, there is an Advanced button. Click this button.

    Click on the Advanced button (NOT the Advanced tab)
  7. You will see a window labeled Advanced. Make sure Computer-to-computer (ad hoc) networks only is NOT selected.

    Choose the second option, Access point. If you use a computer-to-computer wireless network at locations other than Kenyon you can click on Any available network (access point preferred)


    Select Access point (infrastructure) networks only. If you use a computer-to-computer wireless network at locations other than Kenyon you can click on Any available network (access point preferred).
  8. Click on the Close button.
  9. This will take you back to the Wireless Network Connection Properties window. Click the OK button.

If you need additional assistance, call HelpLine at x5700.