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Resolved Hide Network

Discussion in 'Networking (Hardware & Software)' started by kiaville, 2016/04/11.

  1. 2016/04/11
    kiaville

    kiaville Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Hi, This question may have been covered somewhere but I don't how or where to search for it so here goes.

    I have a Netgear WNDR 4300 router. Can I make my network invisible to the outside world? I would like to prevent it from showing up as an available network to my neighbors & neighborhood. I don't see a specific setting for that in the router. Thanks.
     
    kiaville,
    #1
  2. 2016/04/11
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Hi kiaville. You can technically 'hide' your network by turning off broadcast SSID in your Netgear's router settings.

    IMO it doesn't really matter if you attempt to hide your wireless network or not as it doesn't make your wireless network more secure. You just need to make sure your network is using WPA2 encryption and that you have a strong Wi-Fi password. See this article for more information, Debunking Myths: Is Hiding Your Wireless SSID Really More Secure?
     
    Evan Omo,
    #2


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  4. 2016/04/11
    kiaville

    kiaville Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks for the reply. It's not that I have a security concern but that I just wanted to not be on the list, so to speak. Thanks.
     
    kiaville,
    #3
  5. 2016/04/12
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Ok, and in that case turning off SSID Broadcast in your routers settings will have the network not show up in your list of available networks.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #4
    kiaville likes this.
  6. 2016/04/12
    kiaville

    kiaville Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks, problem solved.
     
    kiaville,
    #5
  7. 2016/04/12
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    You are welcome. :)
     
    Evan Omo,
    #6
  8. 2016/04/13
    kiaville

    kiaville Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    One more last thought for this thread. True it does not make it any more secure. But if it is not there to see then no one will be tempted to try and get in to the network.
     
    kiaville,
    #7
  9. 2016/04/13
    Evan Omo

    Evan Omo Computer Support Technician Staff

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    Yeah but at the same time, all you need is one of those 3rd party network scanning tools to find your hidden network anyway. You are just making it harder for yourself for when you want to connect to your network because you manually have to create a new network profile for this hidden network.
     
    Evan Omo,
    #8
  10. 2016/04/13
    kiaville

    kiaville Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Yes you are right. That is the other end of this scenario. Guess I was to optimistic. Thanks.
     
    kiaville,
    #9
  11. 2016/04/16
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Disabling "broadcast ssid" will prevent 99% of neighbors and passers-by from seeing your network. The 1% who are LOOKING for networks to breach will always be able to find your network. Fortunately, there's a 99% chance they won't ever be in your neighborhood.
     
    TonyT,
    #10

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