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Bede · 18th Apr 2012, 09:13

Tbh I'd say that hiding the SSID is a pretty good idea. It will deter casual hackers because they won't be looking for it and will just try and crack the ones that they have already seen.

Against a more serious network cracker you're a bit boned. Use WPA2 and a semi-random 12-character+ password and hope for the best.

lamboman · 18th Apr 2012, 10:24

Hidden SSIDs should be a last "cherry on top" move on a network. However, in reality, it doesn't really do anything at all, it's just a peace-of-mind privacy measure against non-tech-savvy people in your local area.

GoodBytes · 18th Apr 2012, 13:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bede

Tbh I'd say that hiding the SSID is a pretty good idea. It will deter casual hackers because they won't be looking for it and will just try and crack the ones that they have already seen.

This is so not true, you guys think that the hacker will start Windows, and go on the wireless connection panel and go "Let's seeee.. which network I'll hack". No, they'll pop wtv hacking tool, and go "showAllWireless", get the list including the hidden ones, and starts with the second one on the list (assuming the first one is his own network). That is all. And why the second one in the list? Wireless signal strength.

This is one of the MANY, and I mean MANY Wireless hacking tutorial on youtube... YOUTUBE!

So I don't know what you guys thing hidding the SSID will give, it doesn't give any **** security increase. If ANYTHING, if I was hacking someone, it would tell me "Ohhh he probably has good stuff, maybe movies or something I can steal from his shared network folders", and not "This looks like a computer illiterate user, I'll get at BEST.. cats pictures, or basic internet"

Bede · 18th Apr 2012, 17:00

You are not a casual user if you run backtrack, or indeed any other linux distro.

Flak · 18th Apr 2012, 17:52

GoodBytes

You said yesterday in post 20 that we should all relax, but today you show how easy it is to hack a wireless network. Which piece of advice should we listen to? I don't know about others viewing this thread but I just seek sensible advice on how to secure my network. If WPA2 with a strong password is as good as it gets then I shall be content with that.

faugusztin · 18th Apr 2012, 17:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flak

GoodBytes

You said yesterday in post 20 that we should all relax, but today you show how easy it is to hack a wireless network. Which piece of advice should we listen to?

That video shows how to crack WEP. And the tools used for that don't care for your hidden SSID, because :

Quote:

To obtain the hidden SSID there are a few options:

Wait for a wireless client to associate with the AP. When this happens, airodump-ng will capture and display the SSID.
Deauthenticate an existing wireless client to force it to associate again. The point above will apply.
Use a tool like mdk3 to bruteforce the SSID.

The only sensible options are - set security to WPA2 and set a password. Hidden SSID is pointless, so is MAC filtering.

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

Or from MS : http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...6942.aspx#EDAA

Flak · 18th Apr 2012, 20:56

faugusztin

Two very interesting links in your post, I think you have sold me on not hiding the SSID.

Landy_Ed · 18th Apr 2012, 21:16

The technet article is a decent one, though predates e.g. windows 7 and a few changes since. Hope you read the whole article before coming to that conclusion.

I think I've posted this link before here. I did the puzzle in around 20 minutes, but I am no hacker. Have a go, then decide who you are trying to protect yourself from & how! Just bear in mind, hiding your ssid does not make it harder for someone who knows what to look for, it's more in the nature of not leaving your pocket open with a big neon sign saying "my stuff is in here" above it. that's all.

18th Apr 2012, 09:13	#21
Bede Ultramodder Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: England Posts: 1,146	Tbh I'd say that hiding the SSID is a pretty good idea. It will deter casual hackers because they won't be looking for it and will just try and crack the ones that they have already seen. Against a more serious network cracker you're a bit boned. Use WPA2 and a semi-random 12-character+ password and hope for the best. __________________ Coolermaster 690 II Advanced (white edition) \| i5-2500K \| MSI P67-GD53 \| MSI GTX560Ti HAWK \| 16gb Corsair Vengeance LP 1600Mhz 1.5V \| Gelid Tranquillo \| Asus Xonar DS \| 700W Coolermaster Silent Pro M \| Corsair Force Series 3 60GB \| Crucial M4 128GB \| Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB

18th Apr 2012, 17:00	#24
Bede Ultramodder Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: England Posts: 1,146	You are not a casual user if you run backtrack, or indeed any other linux distro. __________________ Coolermaster 690 II Advanced (white edition) \| i5-2500K \| MSI P67-GD53 \| MSI GTX560Ti HAWK \| 16gb Corsair Vengeance LP 1600Mhz 1.5V \| Gelid Tranquillo \| Asus Xonar DS \| 700W Coolermaster Silent Pro M \| Corsair Force Series 3 60GB \| Crucial M4 128GB \| Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB

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18th Apr 2012, 10:24	#22
lamboman I am a Dremel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,509	Hidden SSIDs should be a last "cherry on top" move on a network. However, in reality, it doesn't really do anything at all, it's just a peace-of-mind privacy measure against non-tech-savvy people in your local area.

18th Apr 2012, 17:52	#25
Flak Minimodder Join Date: May 2011 Location: Ruislip UK Posts: 24	GoodBytes You said yesterday in post 20 that we should all relax, but today you show how easy it is to hack a wireless network. Which piece of advice should we listen to? I don't know about others viewing this thread but I just seek sensible advice on how to secure my network. If WPA2 with a strong password is as good as it gets then I shall be content with that.

18th Apr 2012, 20:56	#27
Flak Minimodder Join Date: May 2011 Location: Ruislip UK Posts: 24	faugusztin Two very interesting links in your post, I think you have sold me on not hiding the SSID.

18th Apr 2012, 21:16	#28
Landy_Ed Ultramodder Join Date: May 2009 Location: In a cold dead place Posts: 1,142	The technet article is a decent one, though predates e.g. windows 7 and a few changes since. Hope you read the whole article before coming to that conclusion. I think I've posted this link before here. I did the puzzle in around 20 minutes, but I am no hacker. Have a go, then decide who you are trying to protect yourself from & how! Just bear in mind, hiding your ssid does not make it harder for someone who knows what to look for, it's more in the nature of not leaving your pocket open with a big neon sign saying "my stuff is in here" above it. that's all.