A popular term for 802.11 wireless networks. Wi-Fi is short for wireless fidelity.

Here are examples.

Inside your home, your computer can accidentally connect when it detects the wireless signal from a neighbor's router or wireless access point.

Away from home, you might accidentally connect to a home wireless network, for example, rather than the corporate wireless network that you really wanted. 

A device that joins networks (for example, to connect your home network to the Internet). A router is also known as a gateway or base station.

A device used for wireless network access. Also known as an access point (or AP) or bridge.

You can specify the order of preferred wireless networks, using a separate utility such as the Wireless Network Connection Status utility included with Microsoft Windows XP. By doing so, there is a greater chance that you will automatically connect to the correct network.

Example If you specify Network A, Network B, and Network C as your preferred wireless networks—in that order—then your computer automatically tries to connect to Network A first.

You should change the password used to access your router's Web-based administrative utility to something other than the factory setting.

To help keep your network more secure, you should change this password from a computer with a wired (Ethernet) connection to your router. For more information, see Change your router's administrative password.

A networking standard that uses cables to connect computers and devices.

If it is practical, you can ask the neighbor who has the nearby wireless network to do either of the following:

• Turn off wireless network name broadcasting

• Limit which computers can connect. For information, see Limit wireless connections using MAC filtering.

In some cases, it can seem that Network Magic has connected to another network, when the real issue is a problem with your router.

If you think this might be the case, try restarting your router to fix the problem. For steps, see Power cycle your router.