OT ? - How am I connecting

Hello Group
I recently acquired via a prize draw a brand new super-dooper ACER LAPTOP
with VISTA HOME PREMIUM and WI/FI too.
I already have a PC with XP which I use with a DIAL-UP connection.
I have NOT installed anything on the laptop and yet when I switch it on it
automatically connects to the internet.
I have downloaded files and programs at incredible speeds but I have no idea
who I am connecting with.
I contacted the company who supplied the Laptop (ACER) who referred me to
the company who held the prize draw but they have not replied (after 2
weeks).
Can any one give me an idea who/how I am connecting please.
I wouldn't like a whopping big phone bill or be found connecting via someone
else's broadband or cable network.
Hope someone can help
TIA
John Murphy

Chrome Boy wrote:
> Hello Group
> I recently acquired via a prize draw a brand new super-dooper ACER LAPTOP
> with VISTA HOME PREMIUM and WI/FI too.
> I already have a PC with XP which I use with a DIAL-UP connection.
> I have NOT installed anything on the laptop and yet when I switch it on it
> automatically connects to the internet.
> I have downloaded files and programs at incredible speeds but I have no idea
> who I am connecting with.
> I contacted the company who supplied the Laptop (ACER) who referred me to
> the company who held the prize draw but they have not replied (after 2
> weeks).
> Can any one give me an idea who/how I am connecting please.
> I wouldn't like a whopping big phone bill or be found connecting via someone
> else's broadband or cable network.
> Hope someone can help
> TIA
> John Murphy
>
>

You have a wireless network card...you are picking up unsecured networks
close to you.

On Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:54:31 +0000, Chrome Boy wrote:

> Hello Group
> I recently acquired via a prize draw a brand new super-dooper ACER LAPTOP
> with VISTA HOME PREMIUM and WI/FI too.
> I already have a PC with XP which I use with a DIAL-UP connection.
> I have NOT installed anything on the laptop and yet when I switch it on it
> automatically connects to the internet.
> I have downloaded files and programs at incredible speeds but I have no idea
> who I am connecting with.
> I contacted the company who supplied the Laptop (ACER) who referred me to
> the company who held the prize draw but they have not replied (after 2
> weeks).
> Can any one give me an idea who/how I am connecting please.
> I wouldn't like a whopping big phone bill or be found connecting via someone
> else's broadband or cable network.
> Hope someone can help
> TIA
> John Murphy

I would assume you are picking up a neighbor's wireless LAN - he's
probably connected to a broadband service. That will continue to work
until the neighbor decides to secure his LAN.

On 6-Jan-2008, ray <> wrote:

> I would assume you are picking up a neighbor's wireless LAN - he's
> probably connected to a broadband service. That will continue to work
> until the neighbor decides to secure his LAN.

I'm surrounded by unsecured wireless LAN's, as are many in
areas of high population density, where the wireless kit has
worked out of the box. The user is happy that it works,
has little or no knowledge about securing it, or has tried
securing it and has failed.