using Network Stumbler

[tooltime]

how can i tell if my ssid is being broadcasted?

i have network stumbler on my wifi client pc (connected to the wifi network) and it picks up the broadcast of my wifi network including ssid, vendor, channel. is it picking up the broadcast because i'm using it from a client that's part of the wifi network? or is the ssid visible?

i have an older netgear wg602 ap with the latest firmware and the setting to disable ssid broadcast is on.

 

[tooltime]

 

[juancferrer]

i think it's because the ssid is visible. just turn on wpa, wep if you don't have wpa, and you'll be fine.

 

[sharq]

I had a similar problem in my wireless AP. It turned out that even though I had broadcast of the SSID disabled, the fact that it was still stored in the router, it was being broadcast. I went into the router and deleted the SSID and left that space blank.
Broadcasting SSID doesn't help prevent detection of your wireless network, but if you live in an apartment complex, then it might help prevent people from randomly connecting to your network. Then again, that should not be an issue since anyone running a wireless ap NEEDS to have WEP/WPA enabled.

 

[tooltime]

i have always used 128 bit web and in the access point setup it has a option to disable the ssid broadcast which i have on.

so i don't know why i network stumbler sees this network. unless it's because i am using stumbler from a wireless pc in the network or...the ssid is just being broadcasted

anyone know b/c i don't know much about stumbler

 

[SpunkyJones]

The ssid will still show up in the frames, its just not being broadcast. A program like netstumbler will still see this info.

 

[Boscoh]

That's why disabling SSID broadcasting is really only useful when you're trying to keep your average wireless user from connecting to your network (or attempting to).

If someone is trying to find your (or anyone's) wireless network and they know what they're doing, they're going to find it. At that point it's up to your authentication and encryption schemes to prevent them from getting in.