If you travel a fair bit, as I do, you’ve noticed at almost every airport that there’s an “ad hoc” (i.e., computer-to-computer rather than computer-to-WiFi) option called “Free Public WiFi.” It seems to be everywhere. I’ve never connected to it, because I know enough not to connect to an ad hoc offering, but I was always amazed at the fact that I see it in pretty much every airport I’ve been to. I had wondered if it was a honeypot scam for a while, but I couldn’t believe that scammers would be able to set up such honeypots in so many airports worldwide and no one would catch them and take it down. So how could there be such “Free Public WiFi” (which obviously was not what it claimed to be) in so many places?

The answer? Well, it’s all Microsoft’s fault.

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…

If gas prices have hit a 10 year low then why are we paying more for it?

http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2012/01/19/natural-gas-prices-drop-to-decade-low/

So we just walked into church on Christmas Eve at 4:00 (yes really) and you get the call that your brother is on his way in an ambulance to the hospital. Since this was not uncommon we were not too concerned until we found out the accident was on Soldier Trail road and they were taking him to UMC, (Trauma one center). He said that he wasn’t screwing around (ya right) and that something blew off the right front end, either tire or broken rim. Looks like he was telling the truth he was on a strait road, something broke spun him around and off the road backwards down a 30 foot embankment and thru some trees. Fortunately the car was all carbon fiber with a racing roll cage. The damage done to the driver was from the tree branches entering the vehicle thru the rear glass. All and all, 4 broken ribs, broken arm, tweaked neck and lacerations galore and sore body.  And one dead supercar, ZR1 - 638 Horsepower now none, Merry Christmas!

Here is Greg with his christmas gift, a new (not really) chair, of course wrapped in justin bieber wrapping paper!

I just received an email that looks like it is from the Better Business Bureau stating you have a complaint and to click here to see it. DO NOT CLICK ON IT.  It is a virus, not sure how it got to me but it got me to click.  Just delete it and let me know if you received it, thanks.

More info here.  

http://tucsoncitizen.com/bbbconsumeralert/tag/virus/