Disabling SSID broadcase problems

[wyvrn]

I was running Win2k and had successfully setup MAC filtering, WEP, and disabled SSID broadcast. Because of a spyware problem I was having, I decided to reformat and install Windows XP Home (another topic for another time). Now I have MAC filtering, WPA, and cannot disable SSID broadcasting. If I disable SSID, my computer cannot find the network, everything else being equal. I am using the same equipment as when running Win2k with SSID disabled. I cannot figure out why I am unable to disable the SSID broadcast now. By the way, I tried WEP instead of WPA, just for experimentation, and noticed that I still had to have SSID broadcast enabled. I am stumped as to why I could disabled SSID on Win2k, but not on WinXP home.

I also noticed that when I was running XP Professional on my laptop, I could setup a profile in the wireless network settings, and specify the SSID and WEP settings, and tell the computer to automatically connect tot his network. So even when I had SSID disabled, my XP Professional computer would find the wireless router and connect. I do not see this same wireless profile option in Windows XP Home. Is this a difference between the 2 operating systems, or could it be another problem.?

Personally I think WinXP, WPA + SSID broadcast is better than WEP and no SSID in Win2k, but would like to disable SSID in WinXP if possible, also.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[JackMDS]

Some Wireless hardware and Windows Zero Configuration would not work with disabled SSID.

Besides Disabled SSID does not add any Real security feature.

1. When you use the Wireless the SSID is broadcasted in clear text any way.

2. Any one who knows how to overcome you WEP/WPA encryption can easily get the SSID since it is not encrypted to begin with.

Link to: Wireless Security.]

Quote: "Because of a spyware problem I was having".

Out of curiosity would you care to elaborate how Spyware relates to Wireless Security?

:sun:

 

[wyvrn]

It relates to Windows 2000 apparently. I started a thread in OT about Microsoft's AntiSpyware Beta program, if you are interested in the background. Basically, I kept having a problem with some adware/trojan that I could not remove using every single spyware tool I could find, and McAfee, Kaspersky, and TrendMicro antivirus software. I thought MS AntiSpyware Beta had finally removed the offending spyware, but it kept reinstalling itself on my system. I tried manually deleting all items in my temp folders, including the hidden one in Documents and Settings folder, based on researching the maunal removal instructions for each piece of adware/trojan. I had all the updates to Windows at the time of infection, and made a couple of additional visits to the update site during the weekend. Finally, I formatted my HDD in disgust this weekend and went with WinXP.

The reason I mention it in this thread is because after I switched from Win2k to WinXP Home, I cannot disable SSID broadcasting, even though I am using the same hardware.

I read the Wireless security link you posted, thanks. Good information.