1. A computer system for interacting with wireless networks, comprising: a networking module configured to persistently store a network ID identifying the computer system; a radio configured to exchange wireless data communications with wireless networks; a network range testing subsystem configured to determine whether the computer system is in communicative range of any wireless network present on a list of approved wireless networks by performing network scanning using a temporary network ID different from the network ID persistently stored by the networking module; and a control subsystem configured to: in response to a determination by the network range testing subsystem that the computer system is in communicative range of any wireless network present on a list of approved wireless networks, cause the radio to establish a connection with a wireless network using the network ID persistently stored by the networking module, in response to a determination by the network range testing subsystem that the computer system is not in communicative range of any wireless network present on a list of approved wireless networks, cause the radio to establish a connection with a wireless network using the temporary network ID; cycle the temporary network ID to a new value each time a cycling period having a varying random length expires; and impose breaks of varying length in the network scanning.