Unsecured network...but no feed?

A simple question for a beginner.

I have my own WEP-enabled secured wireless network at home. Once, I accidentally connected to a wireless network that was within range of my flat and was identified as "unsecured" by WinXP. However, even when I connected to it (temporarily, of course), I could not access the web - IE just came up with a the regular "page missing" error.

Is this because, even though the wireless network of my neighbour was unsecured it may still have been encrupted? Or could it have been that it was for an Apple not a PC (this is surely a stupid question?)?

Any thoughts appreciated!

Petrov.

 

You may have connected in a peer to peer manner, meaning that what you thought was a wireless router you connected to was actually a PC with an 802.11 wireless card that's allowing for peer connections.

 

Ok, I understand. Is there any way to determine if it was a peer-to-peer connection or a wireless router?

Secondly, if it was, in fact, a wireless router and not p2p, then what else do you think could be the cause?

Thanks again.

Petrov.

 

the wireless devise you connected do may not have had internet connection at that moment. Just because the wireless router loses connection with the isp doesnt mean it still wont allow connections to it for configuration or file transfer access.

 

just because you can connect doesn't mean it's not secured. there are many layers of security that one can implement at the router.

bottom line, it's not your router so don't connect to it

 

Right - so there could be another form of security which does not make the connection appear as "Secured" under the Wireless Connections list in XP?

Thanks for the tip about not connecting to the router as its not mine - as I mentioned, I have my own broadband connection, so my question was completely of a curious/technical nature.

Petrov.