I can see other wireless networks setting up my wireless card...?

Question

my question is I know they will be able to see me, but can they access files on my laptop as well?

I will have WPA2 from the router to my laptop, but do I need protection from THIER NETWORK to my Laptop?

Answer 1

No, you have to initiate the connection unless you have your laptop card set to AD HOC mode. Since you are setup with WPA to your router no one unless they connect to your router can see your laptop. (Actually they don't see you at least not your laptop its not an access point -- they can see your router SSID.)

If you connect to one of those other systems then they can see your shared folders.