Disable SSID Broadcast

One way to protect your network from unauthorized access is to hide the fact that you have a wireless network at all. By default, wireless network equipment typically broadcasts a beacon signal, announcing its presence to the world and providing key information necessary for devices to connect to it, including the SSID.

The SSID (service set identifier), or network name, of your wireless network is required for devices to connect to it. If you don't want random wireless devices to connect to your network, then you certainly don't want to announce your presence and include one of the key pieces of information they need to do so.

By disabling the broadcasting of the SSID, or even the beacon signal itself, you can hide the presence of your wireless network or at least obscure the SSID itself which is critical for a device to connect to your network.

Refer to the owner's manual for your specific wireless access point or router to learn how to access the configuration and administration screens and disable the beacon signal or the broadcasting of the SSID.

reference:

Tony Bradley, CISSP-ISSAP, former About.com Guide,Filter MAC Addresses To Secure Your Wireless Network, 

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Posted in: PROTECT WIRELESS NETWORK