Quick question on my new 6000d

It just came yesterday and I love it, so far so good.

While I've never had wirless internet and my house doesn't have a wireless router, the library at my school does and I'm looking forward to getting the opportunity to use it soon. My question is this: I ordered the notebook with Intel/PRO 2915 (802.11a/b/g). I live in a very residential area and when I turn my computer on, the wireless icon at the bottom of the screen informs me that there is a wireless network available to me ... an unsecured one named "belkin54q" and a security-enabled one named "jshen201", both with very strong signals. How is that possible? Can I just go on and use them (well, at least the unprotected one) without a problem? If I did, what would happen?

Being new to the whole wireless notebook thing, any info would be appreciated.

 

As far as your question is concerned, it is strictly a matter of legality. Those networks you saw were routers owned by people close by in your neighborhood. Lots of people just plug in their wifi routers without actually configuring them for security and therefore other people (yourself included) can use them to obtain internet access. HOWEVER, you should know, using someone else's wifi connection is illegal. Seeing that they are there, fine. Connecting, illegal. Obviously you may do whatever you want though.