NPR: The Zombie Network: Beware 'Free Public WiFi'

‘Free Public WiFi isn’t set up like most wireless networks people use to get to the Internet. Instead, it’s an “ad hoc” network — meaning when a user selects it, he or she isn’t connecting to a router or hot spot, but rather directly to someone else’s computer in the area.

Though it doesn’t actually provide Internet access, the network has spread across the country thanks to an old Windows XP bug.’