Apparently, there was a bit of a bug (one of many...) in Windows XP in terms of how it handles certain situations, and it effectively created a "virus" in that unwitting travelers around the globe are all broadcasting "Free Public WiFi" from their computers without realizing it, after they tried to connect to such a network:
When a computer running an older version of XP can't find any of its "favorite" wireless networks, it will automatically create an ad hoc network with the same name as the last one it connected to -- in this case, "Free Public WiFi." Other computers within range of that new ad hoc network can see it, luring other users to connect. And who can resist the word "free?"
Not a lot of people, judging from the spread of Free Public WiFi. Computers with the XP bug that try to connect to the Internet will remember the name, create their own ad hoc networks and entice other users wherever they go.
And so it continues to spread. No one's quite sure where it started, but somewhere way back when, someone set up such an ad hoc network in an airport (perhaps as a joke or a honeypot), and it got picked up by others... and then it just continued spreading. Eventually, it should die out as Windows XP machines finally go extinct, but for now, enjoy (but don't bother connecting) the "Free Public WiFi" found in so many airports...
Its noted in the comments that XP service pack 3 fixed the problem, indeed I haven't seen the icon on my laptop for over a year.
1 comment:
I was just at the Saskatchewan Access, Privacy, Security & Records Management Forum last week. Brad "RenderMan" Haines was one of the keynote speakers. He said that it was a standard gig for people who are trapping passwords and such to set up a node off their computer called "Free Public WiFi" or such in airports and then watch as people connect to the internet through their computer...
As a guy who tried to use a "Free Public WiFi" connection in the airport in Minneapolis until I realised why it wasn't working for me, I can relate to your experience, and have my own set of shakes about passwords in airports. I use an encrypted tunnel when travelling most of the time, but sometimes have not... lack of time/being rushed can cause a person to make bad security choices.
Here is a link to a story about Brad and what he does:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/archives/article699951.ece
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