Not detecting non-broadcasting APs

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  • December 2, 2011 at 9:38 am #1398

    jerryshenk
    Participant

    First off, this looks like a great tool! I’ve tried doing this manually…quite a pain!

    It seems like NetSpot does not detect non-broadcasting APs, that is, ones with a hidden SSID even if the computer is connected. I’m doing a little additional testing but right now, that seems to be the case.

    December 2, 2011 at 10:36 am #1525

    jerryshenk
    Participant

    I enabled SSID broadcasts and the connected APs popped up on the list.

    December 2, 2011 at 12:16 pm #1530

    Alex – NetSpot
    Keymaster

    True. This will only be available in NetSpot 2.0

    December 2, 2011 at 12:19 pm #1532

    jerryshenk
    Participant

    OK, thanks for getting back to me. Other than that, it seems like a pretty cool utility. I was suprised how well in pinpointed the location of APs also.

    December 2, 2011 at 12:35 pm #1534

    Alex – NetSpot
    Keymaster

    jerryshenk said: I was suprised how well in pinpointed the location of APs also.

    There will be an update soon, this algorithm is going to be improved!

    December 9, 2011 at 12:02 am #1557

    CousinsCompute
    Participant

    How do you enable SSID broadcasts? I have an Extreme base station installed and am getting ready to set up an Express to extend the network. Looks like NetSpot could really help but not if it doesn’t recognize the Express.

    December 9, 2011 at 5:48 am #1558

    Alex – NetSpot
    Keymaster

    You should check your APs manual. Let me google for you:

    http://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/disable-ssid-broadcast-airport-express-extreme-wireless-routers/ – “Create a closed network” option hides SSID.

    December 29, 2011 at 7:46 am #1576

    mnjhost
    Participant

    any update on when you could add ssid manually, will this be in version 2.0 and if so any idea on planned release. Would be please to pilot any release and give detail feedback, if it would help :-)

    December 29, 2011 at 4:45 pm #1578

    Alex – NetSpot
    Keymaster

    Yep, version 2.0 will have that. However, every hidden SSID you add manually will make every scan longer… a bit.

    February 8, 2012 at 8:47 am #1599

    Decibel
    Participant

    Sorry, late to the party. But I could see why you would need this I suppose, but the whole purpose of not broadcasting your SSID is so that apps and computers can’t see the network. No reason you can’t broadcast while surveying and turn it back off once you are done.

    Dumping something like this on a coder as a “bug” will only hinder them into putting their attention into fixing the bug in their software when they could be improving things that actually need it. Something like this should go into feature requests.

    Just my opinion.

    February 10, 2012 at 5:51 am #1602

    Alex – NetSpot
    Keymaster

    Definitely not a bug here. Hiding SSID is also not considered to be a good way to make someone’s network more secure.

    March 9, 2012 at 9:30 am #1623

    EricE
    Participant

    “Hiding SSID is also not considered to be a good way to make someone’s network more secure.” Yup, because it’s not really hidden.

    Causes more problems than it’s worth – I wish people would really stop doing it, especially when they think it’s improving their security (it’s not!)

    May 19, 2012 at 9:09 am #1657

    pichinco
    Participant

    I disagree. It may not make your network “more secure” but it does decrease your visibility somewhat. You can argue that someone who’s looking to hack your network would go to the guy trying hardest to be secure, so would attack the hidden network. I would argue that someone would go after the least secure and easiest to find. That is, the person who has done the least to “protect” their network. That in itself is a form of security. So, I’ll keep hiding my SSID for the time being.

    May 21, 2012 at 4:29 am #1659

    Alex – NetSpot
    Keymaster

    It’s a well-known fact that hiding your network’s SSID does not protect you in any way:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl7rmL7rCQw
    http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-596720.html
    http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/28653/debunking-myths-is-hiding-your-wireless-ssid-really-more-secure/
    http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2008/04/21/wi-fi-mythbuster-do-not-hide-your-ssid/
    etc…

    But it’s surely up to you whether you want to keep your network name hidden or not.

    May 28, 2012 at 12:07 am #1664

    markuhde
    Participant

    Alex, I’d go beyond not helping. Not broadcasting your SSID causes you and your neighbors problems. By not broadcasting your SSID, someone else may not see the channel is in use and strong from their location (this mostly being a big deal in apartments), and contribute to interference problems. Also, many devices won’t connect to hidden SSID’s. Broadcast your SSID’s like you’re meant to, for everyone’s sake. And use WPA2-AES for real security.

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