Microsoft has released a new wireless utility update, that changes Ad-HOC functionality. Maybe that is the fix you're looking for.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/917021 Changes for ad hoc networks On a computer that does not have the Wireless Client Update installed, Wireless Auto Configuration automatically tries to connect to all the wireless networks in the preferred networks list that have previously been connected to. If no infrastructure mode networks are present, Wireless Auto Configuration sends probe requests to try to connect to the first ad hoc wireless network in the preferred networks list. An observer could monitor these probe requests and establish an unsecured connection with a Windows wireless client. On a computer that has the Wireless Client Update installed, Wireless Auto Configuration does not send probe requests to connect to newly created ad hoc wireless networks in the preferred networks list. Because many ad hoc wireless networks are created for temporary wireless connectivity, you must use the Choose a Wireless Network dialog box to manually initiate a connection to an ad hoc mode wireless network. > -----Original Message----- > From: Philippe Hanset [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 9:56 AM > To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU > Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] SSID of "Free Public WiFi" > > Martin, > > I have asked the same question before on this list after > having searched for quite a while the key that turns ad-hoc off. > The best I got was the following command line script: > > http://www.engl.co.uk/products/zwlancfg/ > > Best, > > Philippe Hanset > Univ. of Tennessee > > > On Tue, 28 Nov 2006, Flagg, Martin D. wrote: > > > Thanks, but what I am looking for is a reg key to turn off > ICS without turning off the firewall. or Some other way to > prevent a client from broadcasting a SSID. > > > > ________________________________ > > > > From: Robinson, Ronald [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Tue 11/28/2006 9:18 AM > > To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU > > Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] SSID of "Free Public WiFi" > > > > > > Hi Martin, > > > > I don't know if this is what you are looking for but it may > help. Under the Wireless Networks tab of the network card > properties there is and Advanced button that will allow you > to set a check box to only allow connection to Access point > networks. The default is any network. > > > > > > Ron Robinson > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > > From: Flagg, Martin D. [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 7:19 AM > > To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU > > Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] SSID of "Free Public WiFi" > > > > > > > > Does anyone know how to shutdown the ability of XP to > act as an ad-hoc network? I would like this add this check > to CCA but have not figured out how to do it. > > > > > > > > Martin Flagg > > > > Hiram College > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > > > > From: David Warner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 3:09 PM > > To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU > > Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] SSID of "Free Public WiFi" > > > > > > > > If a computer were doing this, it could also be logging > sensitive data for exploitation. > > > > At 02:55 PM 11/27/2006, you wrote: > > > > > > > > I have been seeing the same SSID as well as several > others that are > > continually showing up on our network. After further > investigation, and > > some testing to verify, I have determined that it is > caused by wireless > > profiles configured on a Windows computer. > > > > I set up a test using a unique broadcast SSID on an > access point, then > > connected to it with a WinXP box (which automatically > creates a wireless > > profile for that SSID). I then shut down both the AP > and the WinXP > > client. Using another wireless client I viewed > available wireless > > networks, the unique SSID was not seen. I then turned > the WinXP box > > back on, without connecting to any wireless network, > and there it was, > > the unique SSID being broadcast as an Ad-Hoc network. > Turn off the XP > > box and the SSID disappears, turn it back on and there > it is again. I > > then removed the profile for that SSID from the XP box > and the Ad-Hoc > > network never appeared again. > > > > > > Ron Robinson > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Lee Badman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Monday, November 27, 2006 1:18 PM > > To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU > > Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] SSID of "Free Public WiFi" > > > > SSID: "Free Public WiFi" > > > > Am seeing dozens and dozens of these on any given day > as detected by our > > Cisco LWAPP system- all ad hoc. Internet searching digs > up articles like > > this > > > > http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1239995&page=1 > > > > and this > > > > http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,16550092 > > > > With some speculation that some sort of malware is > opening a door to > > the wired network through a given user's wireless > connection. Others say > > that it's just something that got picked up travelling, > where the user > > actually connected to some commercial hotspot with that SSID... > > > > Wondering if anyone is seeing this same noise on a > large scale, and > > perhaps have done their own analysis on actual client > machines putting > > it out there over the air? > > > > This one sounds plausible, and may be the "real" answer- > > > > > http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2006/09/free_public_wif.html > > > > where it is a viral-spread condition, but not a virus. > But is amazing > > how many of these are out there- over 40 right now that > I can see on our > > network. > > > > Curious in Syracuse- > > > > Lee > > > > ********** > > Participation and subscription information for this > EDUCAUSE Constituent > > Group discussion list can be found at > http://www.educause.edu/groups/. > > > > ********** > > Participation and subscription information for this > EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at > http://www.educause.edu/groups/. > > > > ********** Participation and subscription information > for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be > found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** > Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE > Constituent Group discussion list can be found at > http://www.educause.edu/groups/. > > > > ********** Participation and subscription information for > this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found > at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. > > > > ********** > > Participation and subscription information for this > EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at > http://www.educause.edu/groups/. > > > > ********** > Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE > Constituent Group discussion list can be found at > http://www.educause.edu/groups/. > ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
