Alex Heney <me8@privacy.net> wrote:
>>>Agreed. And setting the router to not broadcast the SSID is good too.
>>
>> That is *not* a good idea. It acomplishes nothing of value, but
>> it does make it difficult for people to *avoid* your network.
>
>Huh?
>
>It certainly does no such thing. Unless, of course, you have left it to the
>default value, which both Paul and I were suggesting be changed first.

Disabling the SSID broadcast has *no* security value. Enabling
the SSID broadcast *does* allow others to easily notice that a
given channel is being used and should be avoided.

>It means that "casual" browsers won't see it at all, so there is no danger
>of them connecting to it. It most certainly does not make it difficult for
>them to avoid it.

It only means that the "casual" browsers might not see it
/quickly/; but anyone who is intent on finding something to
break into *can* find it... if it is turned on and absolutely so
if it is actually being used.

It most certainly *does* make interference possible to avoid
too. That is the purpose of having it "broadcast", which merely
makes it available at regular (short) intervals. That way
someone who is setting up a network *can* see it immediately,
and realize that setting up on that channel will cause
interference. If the broadcasts are disabled it is less likely
that *your* network will be avoided!

--
Floyd L. Davidson <http://web.newsguy.com/floyd_davidson>
Ukpeagvik (Barrow, Alaska) floyd@apaflo.com