Yes, but it is a very weak defense that can be smashed e.g. your device is seen communicating with the BSSID of the closed wifi, or your mac address (open wifi) is seen communicating with surveilled target.
Maybe in 2008 this was plausible, but it was also plausible to disguise one's self and walk to mcdonald's free wifi with a burner wifi card and/or Kali Linux. With the proliferation of surveillance devices everywhere it becomes an uphill battle