Now, in order for someone to discover your network??™s hidden SSID, the
hacker must be within range of your PC when it??™s on, and listening at the
moment it attempts to connect to your wireless network. If you??™re already
connected at home or if you??™re surfing the Web at the coffee shop, Windows
won??™t send out any signals. But more importantly, if someone discovers
your SSID, she still won??™t be able to connect to your network as long as
you??™ve enabled encryption. As it is, a hidden SSID won??™t adequately protect
your network if it??™s the sole security measure, and that??™s what Microsoft
means by its vague warning.
The aforementioned Connect even if the network is not
broadcasting option is a new feature inWindows Vista. If you
have any older PCs on your network running, say, Windows
XP, there is no such option unless you install the Wireless Client
Update at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=917021.
So, to connect to your home network with a hidden SSID, you have four
choices:
Build Your Network | 361
Networking and
Internet
??? Take Microsoft??™s advice and configure your wireless router to broadcast
its SSID. Rely on encryption, explained in ???Set Up a Wireless Router,???
earlier in this chapter, and authentication, described in Chapter 8, to
protect your privacy. Then, connect to your network as described earlier
in this section.
??? Turn off your router??™s SSID Broadcast setting and enable the Connect
even if the network is not broadcasting option.
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