"Borrowing" Wireless Routers

Laura asked: Can other people tell if you're using their wireless network?

Ed answered: Yes

Laura replied: Well, those bastards! Can they see into my computer when I'm on their network?

Ed Smit wrote: Only if you're shared and have no password.

Laura: Say, I don't understand. If I sneak on someone else's network from my'puter, does that give them access to me? I'm not shared; they're just some dope who didn't password-protect their network. See what I mean?

Ed: Only if you're a big enough dope to not have a password on your computer and you've shared folders on it.

Laura: yes, I have a password but I only have to use it to update software, etc. Not every time I turn it on. Is that safe?

Ed: You just have it automatically logging in when you start up. The password is there you just don't have it set to ask every time. You can see this setting under the apple menu under preferences in the user info.