It's also a good idea when you're on the Wireless Networks tab to look at all the wireless networks listed in the Preferred networks area (shown in the nearby figure). These are networks that at one time or another you've connected to. Highlight any that you are not absolutely sure are secure, then click Remove. That way, your PC won't attempt to connect to them.

There's more you should do as well. You should also configure your remaining preferred networks so that you don't connect to them automatically. Why do that? Let's say your home network uses the default name it shipped with --- for example, Linksys for a Linksys network. A scamster can create an ad hoc network called Linksys, and then anyone nearby who has Linksys listed as a preferred network will automatically connect to that ad hoc network.

So in the Preferred networks area, highlight each network, select Properties, then click the connection tab, shown in the nearby figure. Uncheck the box next to "Connect when this network is within range" and keep clicking OK until the dialog boxes close.

Keeping safe in Windows Vista

Microsoft spent a considerable amount of effort making Windows Vista more secure than Windows XP, but when it comes to wireless networking, you're more at risk in Windows Vista from an ad hoc attack than you were in Windows XP. That's because in Windows Vista, it's not as easy to distinguish an ad hoc network from a normal Wi-Fi network as it is in Windows XP. However, once you know the trick, it's easy to do.