Making a network using my Wi-Fi laptop?

Myosin

I've just noticed this on my "Available networks" menu:



What I find strange is the computer to computer connection Does this mean that when I was messing around when this laptop was new, that I'm actually broadcasting a wireless "network" right now? Is there a way to check - I'm a little worried Btw my laptop is a dell so I don't know what the HP thing is - perhaps someone in the area If it matters, my laptops a centrino chipset with the associated INtel components.

THanks

Browntoa

no, it's not connected to that other Laptop, although you could set up a "Peer to Peer" ad-hoc network between the 2

if you are worried when you are not at home you can disable it by hitting the FN key o the bottom left of the keyboard and the Aerial symbol at the top left

albertross_2

I'd be more worried that you are connected to an insecure wireless network. If that is yours, secure it using WPA-PSK, disable ssid broadcasting. (your emails, browsing habits, are flying across the airwaves unencrypted for anyone to see without it, and if someone else connects to the same network with a worm, you might get it pretty quickly. If you have file sharing enabled on the PC, you may be sharing your files with the neighbours as well!)

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=1460703&postcount=2


Also, go into change advanced settings, wireless networks, and remove all the automatic settings to disable the peer to peer stuff, and stop it automatically connecting to random networks. (The only automatic one should be your router). Then click advanced, make sure "access point infrastructure networks only" is checked, and "automatically connect to non-preferred networks" is unchecked)

You also might want to tell your neighbours to do the same thing..

Crabman

eh-up sorry to pop into your thread myosin but is it possible to transfer data beween two wifi lappys then like you've got in that screenshot?? we've got three in this house and it would be much easier if I could connect direct... how's it done??

Browntoa

missed that, yes it is unsecured is'nt it !!

to connect direct just go on the 2 laptops and connect while in range, you will need file sharing on the move files about

Myosin

How would I secure a computer-to-computer connection then?? I can't even find out how to see whether it#s active or not. I've clicked the option on the left there "Set up a wireless network for home/office" and made one supposedly but it doesn't show up on my available wireless networks. Tbh I'm quite confused by this all now

albertross_2

See the second paragraph of my post. You shouldn't normally need a peer to peer connection at all..

Are you using your own router, or someone else's? If so, what model?

dickibobboy

are you sure this is your laptop?
and there seems to be a few wireless networks around you that are un-secured.

Myosin

well mine is a dell but i know that our neighbour has an HP laptop so it could be theirs yeah we've got a lot of unsecured networks - and i'll look at getting ours some WPA encryption and key

dickibobboy

so you do have a wireless network? i dont think this could be yours seen as your laptop is not a HP ether. its just you have picked some wireless network that is different from the other ones as it is a laptop broadcasting one not a router

Myosin

dickibobboy wrote:

so you do have a wireless network? i dont think this could be yours seen as your laptop is not a HP ether. its just you have picked some wireless network that is different from the other ones as it is a laptop broadcasting one not a router

But I was told on here before that it isn't possible for laptops to broadcast a network!!

Yes I have a Netgear router but what I'm worried about is the network that I have set up from my laptop I was told before that this wasn't possible but now I ain't so sure from what you guys tell me