[kbz1960]

I would like to hide the SSID of my hotspot. Not because of security or anything like that. Where I work they go around looking for SSID's and try to find were it's coming from. Don't judge please.

Had a suggestion to turn off allow other devices but that only prevents others from connecting and the SSID is still visible.

Anyone else interested in having the option?

[jaydee5799]

i bet there are people interested. I don't know if it's possible tho.

[kbz1960]

Maybe if enough are interested BB might add an option?

[mkelley65]

I would like to hide the SSID of my hotspot. Not because of security or anything like that. Where I work they go around looking for SSID's and try to find were it's coming from. Don't judge please.

Had a suggestion to turn off allow other devices but that only prevents others from connecting and the SSID is still visible.

Anyone else interested in having the option?

Even if you hide the SSID it will still broadcast but just as unknown or hidden. They can still locate you. What you want is an option to turn off beaconing.

[kbz1960]

I think they just look for SSID's. The IT guy told me one day he was walking around with his iPad and was finding some but didn't know were they were coming from. I wasn't using mine that day.

[deltact]

Add me to the interested list.

Posted via CB10 on Passport.

[anon(4086706)]

I dunno, but if IT companies started being strict about Hotspot (which is a very valid reason imho: see how WiFi channels work) I think the better alternative is to tether your phone via bluetooth if you don't need that much bandwidth.

Passport | SQW100-1/10.3.1.2072 | Globe PH

[zephyr613]

I used to be one of "those guys" - the lucky one where part of my job was to walk around "sniffing" for anything broadcasting. We were located in a Secure building where any and all portable devices MUST be turned off. Of course since this was for the Government we had "specialized" sniffers - and found that most users forgot to turn off their portable device and were indeed broadcasting - this included the BYOD's (which actually proved my point about what a horrible idea that was to begin with) the majority of the offenders were Apple products, but some were Blackberry devices (BBOS) and a huge chunk were either laptops with the Wi-Fi connection still on or the Network printers installed that were broadcasting.

It was fun...

[Raestloz]

Even if you hide the SSID it will still broadcast but just as unknown or hidden. They can still locate you. What you want is an option to turn off beaconing.

In other words, hiding SSID is like politely asking kids not to enter your lawn, but whippersnappers can and will stomp on your lawn either way

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[chiphazard]

Use a good password

Rogers Blackberry Passport. BlackBerry Since 2006

[PiotrJot]

Use a good password

Rogers Blackberry Passport. BlackBerry Since 2006

And how would it help OP with his problem? Can you explain?

Posted via CrackBerry App

[BCITMike]

Even if you hide the SSID it will still broadcast but just as unknown or hidden. They can still locate you. What you want is an option to turn off beaconing.

You can't turn off beaconing. Its integral to the operation. Hidden SSID just transmits a NULL instead.

[BCITMike]

I think they just look for SSID's. The IT guy told me one day he was walking around with his iPad and was finding some but didn't know were they were coming from. I wasn't using mine that day.

If the guy is just using an iPad, you might be ok. If he's using Android or an actual wifi scanner, he's easily pick it up if it had any clients connected to it.

[BCITMike]

In other words, hiding SSID is like politely asking kids not to enter your lawn, but whippersnappers can and will stomp on your lawn either way

Z10 STL100-1/10.2.1.3442

It's more likely they'll be stomped on if they are hidden. Hidden SSID is nearly almost always a dumb idea. For half a dozen reasons.

If I waste time troubleshooting a problem in my lab caused by unknown AP, when I find out someone has a hidden SSID AP in my area, I go ape ish.

[kbz1960]

Use a good password

Rogers Blackberry Passport. BlackBerry Since 2006

Wut? Not what the thread is about at all.

[kbz1960]

It's more likely they'll be stomped on if they are hidden. Hidden SSID is nearly almost always a dumb idea. For half a dozen reasons.

If I waste time troubleshooting a problem in my lab caused by unknown AP, when I find out someone has a hidden SSID AP in my area, I go ape ish.

Good for you.

This isn't about some super duper scanners or the NSA hunting it down. They don't go that far. It's about when they look at available networks they don't see it.

[mkelley65]

You can't turn off beaconing. Its integral to the operation. Hidden SSID just transmits a NULL instead.

I know you can't turn off beaconing on a cell phone. That is what he was looking for, though. Whether it transmits NULL or not it's still transmitting and therefore discoverable. High end APs allow you to turn off beacnoning.

[BCITMike]

I know you can't turn off beaconing on a cell phone. That is what he was looking for, though. Whether it transmits NULL or not it's still transmitting and therefore discoverable. High end APs allow you to turn off beacnoning.

Again, you can't turn off beaconing. Check OP's post, he's just trying to HIDE the SSID, which in practice is done by replacing the SSID with NULL instead of the actual SSID in the wireless frame broadcasted by the AP (the beacon). When basic clients scan and do not see an SSID, it doesn't display it. Simple as that.

It must always beacon, its integral to the standard. Clients disconnect without beacons.

[Richard Buckley]

The practice of hiding SSID has lead to the proliferation of mobile devices that go around probing for like love sick teenagers.

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/201...ind-your-back/

And more on the topic

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/28653...y-more-secure/

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[kbz1960]

Thanks but I'm not caring about all of that. I want to be able to do is not have SSID there for anyone looking for a connection.

[Richard Buckley]

Thanks but I'm not caring about all of that. I want to be able to do is not have SSID there for anyone looking for a connection.

But you're missing the point of why responsible device manufacturers don't do that:

It is contrary to the standards, and
It breaks the operation of compliant devices.

If you really want that capability you should get a MyFi or similar that has already been broken
https://forums.crackberry.com/e?link...token=_cSU-d5I

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[kbz1960]

But you're missing the point of why responsible device manufacturers don't do that:

It is contrary to the standards, and
It breaks the operation of compliant devices.

If you really want that capability you should get a MyFi or similar that has already been broken
Enable/Disable SSID Broadcast on the AT&T Mobile Hotspot MiFi 2372- AT&T Wireless Support

Z10STL100-3/10.3.1.1154

Then why can you hide on your router? I see no difference.

[bobshine]

MAC filtering would be much more interesting

Posted via CB10

[kbz1960]

It's pretty simple, take away the NSA super duper snoopers etc. I just want the thing not to be visible to everyone looking.

I guess there is another place for discussion on the rest.

[Richard Buckley]

Then why can you hide on your router? I see no difference.

Routers that hide the SSID are not compliant with the standard. Some companies sell nonstandard equipment, some don't. That's the difference.

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