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How To Hide Your WiFi Network & Prevent It From Being Seen

Discussion in 'Tech, Gadgets & Science Forum' started by jamadari, Sep 14, 2011.

  1. jamadari

    jamadari JF-Expert Member

    Sep 14, 2011
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    How To Hide Your WiFi Network & Prevent It From Being Seen

    [​IMG]Wireless networks are, by their nature, less secure than wired ones. While many users overestimate the potential security problems that can stem from a wireless network, there are still some risks that dont exist with wired options, however minor they may be.
    Some users try to hide their WiFi network as part of their wireless security. Hiding your WiFi network effectively cuts it off from people who dont know the SSID  or at least, thats the theory. In truth, this technique has flaws, but its easy enough to execute.
    A Quick SSID Intro

    The SSID (Service Set Identifier) of a router is the name that it broadcasts to identify itself. This is a feature youve already used if you have ever connected to a wireless network, and it helps users separate the many different signals riding the airwaves. When you visit a coffee shop with free WiFi, for example, you usually know the right network to connect to because it is labeled with the shops name.
    SSIDs are broadcasted voluntarily, however. Every router broadcasts one by default, but the option can be turned off. When you turn off SSID broadcast, others wont be able to pick up the broadcast of your wireless network and they wont know to whom the network belongs to.
    The Limitations Of SSID Hiding

    At least, thats the theory. The problem with SSID hiding is that hiding wireless signals is impossible. SSID or not, your router is still broadcasting radio waves in all directions, which means that those waves can be intercepted. They wont have an SSID attached to them, but there are other ways to separate wireless networks.
    This means that hiding your SSID wont hide your wi-fi network from someone using a WiFi network scanner. Anyone who is going to try and crack a wireless network will be using one of those anyway, so the utility of hiding an SSID is fairly limited.
    How To Hide Your SSID

    If youre still interested in hiding your SSID, I have good news  the process of doing so is quite simple.
    First, youll need to log onto your router. This is done by entering the local IP address of your router into your web browser  in most cases, this is Youll be presented with a login page prompting you with a username and password. Hopefully you will have customized this, but if not, refer to your routers manual for the default information.
    Once youre in, navigate to your routers wireless settings page, find the SSID broadcast option (usually a checkbox) and uncheck it. Then, save your new settings. Its that easy. Just make sure you know your SSID, because youll need to have that information if you want to connect  if youre not using a WiFi sniffer, at least.

    Ive already said that hiding your SSID isnt really a method of improving your security, but I want to stress that point. Many people want to know how to hide their SSID, and I can only assume they would want to do so under the assumption that it will make them more secure.
    Wireless just doesnt work that way. The only protection this offers is against an uninformed user who is trying to find a specific network, perhaps as a means of identifying where a person lives, or trying to guess the networks password (you do have a secure password, right?).

  2. sijui nini

    sijui nini JF-Expert Member

    Sep 15, 2011
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