Guide to Home Network Security: SSID's

Communities Blog
2

Yes, do/don't enable SSID. whaaa...???

For anyone who might still be confused after watching this video, I think I can sum it up by saying that SSID is the broadcast ID of your WiFi (a.k.a. 802.11xx) network. There. I just saved you about 3 minutes of video to watch.

And if anyone is even considering disabling SSID then you should also know that it is a very poor attempt at any kind of network security whatsoever. In fact, disabling SSID is rather like watching an ostrich bury it's head in the sand. Sure, you're hidden but from what/who?! (Anyone who knows how to use a "sniffer" with a free product like Wireshark can still see a bit giant bird butt.)

For any kind of real WiFi security, you must use encryption (WPA-2, WPA or even the horrible old WEP) and hopefully filter each connection according to MAC address (which is something I almost never hear any of these so called "experts" even mention). But really, the best security is to not even use WiFi. Use a hard wired Ethernet connection instead, not only for security but also for speed!

 

3

I white list and disable WPS. as even if you have WPA/WPA2 anyone with packet injection can (with some time) crack your WPS key, which is about the only known way around 128 bit encryption. (well, maybe a brute force attack by 12 quantum PCs can do it in just under 25 years, who knows?)

4

whats the lotion in the background for? lol you dirty dog

5

i employ a hidden ssid with MAC filtering.

6

I employ an ethernet connection in my home with an unsecured and walled-garden guest connection for wireless. I am the only signal for 2 blocks, I know I make some neighbor kids quite happy because internet is a bitch to get around here for any reasonable price. The connections are capped at 5mbps unless my QoS kicks in and I need the bandwidth, but I have a 100D/40U pipe so it usually does not impact me at all.