When I browse thru the list of wifi networks in my neighbour, I see a couple of unprotected networks (with no wpa/wpa2 or wep protection). When I try to connect, I cannot. These networks belong to Wifi ISPs and you have to buy their service to be able to connect via their APs.

So how do we call such Wifi APs? They're neither protected nor open.

How do such networks protect unwanted users to connect to them? Is there some host or similar file on user's comp which allows them to connect?

Thanks anyone for taking time to clarify these things to me.

When I browse thru the list of wifi networks in my neighbour, I see a couple of unprotected networks (with no wpa/wpa2 or wep protection). When I try to connect, I cannot. These networks belong to Wifi ISPs and you have to buy their service to be able to connect via their APs.

So how do we call such Wifi APs? They're neither protected nor open.

How do such networks protect unwanted users to connect to them? Is there some host or similar file on user's comp which allows them to connect?

Thanks anyone for taking time to clarify these things to me.

EDIT

You cannot actually even connect to this network. It looks like it's open and I can see it says "unprotected", but yet I cannot connect to it.