Broadcast SSID

Joseph.roble · ‎02-19-2010

I have broadcast ssid unchecked on my wlans, yet when we run airmagnet we see some aps seeing some of our wlans broadcasting their ssid?

Leo Laohoo · ‎02-19-2010

Some wireless sniffers, such as AirMagnet, can pick up non-broadcasting SSID. Try the Windows Zero Config or use the Wi-Fi of your smartphones and verify.

Scott Olsen · ‎02-20-2010

It's a common security myth that not broadcasting an SSID provides some level of protection (if this was the reasoning behind turning off the broadcast). It's 100% untrue and can actually cause some (legitimate) clients to experience a delay before detecting the network they want is available to associate to.

Cheers,

Scott.

Scott Olsen Solutions Specialist Bulletproof Solutions Inc. Web: www.bulletproofsi.com

George Stefanick · ‎02-21-2010

Hi Joe,

The reason why AirMagnet and other sniffers can see the SSID is because software like (AirMagnet) sniff the probe request frames coming from clients already preconfig with the SSID. if you capture the probe request from the client and open it up you will see the hidden SSID. AirMagnet will mark the SSID with the color RED on the dashboard. This is an indication the ssid was not being broadcasted.

Other sniffers like NetStumbler only looks for broadcast frames.... this why you will not see the "hidden" networks.

Make sense?!

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Thanks

"Satisfaction does not come from knowing the solution, it comes from knowing why." - Rosalind Franklin
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