Using wireless router (?) to get internet in other rooms?

isofa

totalsolutions wrote: »

> hide the SSID
No point. Zero benefit. Cons: Can't see it if you need to.

Whilst I agree it isn't a security measure, and certainly shouldn't be done instead of other security steps recommended, it can deter casual neighbours from seeing your network, in a basic network wifi browser, or through Windows etc. But any one with good IT knowledge can obviously find an SSID anyway. Changing the SSID to something unique or less obviously that "Netgear1" or whatever can be helpful.

To be fair to TS I've heard on various occasions that turning off SSID broadcast can cause connection issues too.

Mac address can easily be cloned and spoofed if you know what you are doing, so you could argue there is little point in enabling filtering for that either.

Consider how many people just plug wi-fi routers in and run with them, never once setting up the security, I bet it's a large proportion. Enable WPA encryption at an absolute minimum.

Personally I think all wireless networking is inherently insecure, regardless of security measures. And not one of my clients with high security requirements would ever consider it. But I'm talking professionally now, not for home users!

Anyway we are rapidly veering from the OPs question

dervish

isofa wrote: »

Whilst I agree it isn't a security measure, and certainly shouldn't be done instead of other security steps recommended, it can deter casual neighbours from seeing your network, in a basic network wifi browser, or through Windows etc. But any one with good IT knowledge can obviously find an SSID anyway. Changing the SSID to something unique or less obviously that "Netgear1" or whatever can be helpful.

To be fair to TS I've heard on various occasions that turning off SSID broadcast can cause connection issues too.

Mac address can easily be cloned and spoofed if you know what you are doing, so you could argue there is little point in enabling filtering for that either.

Consider how many people just plug wi-fi routers in and run with them, never once setting up the security, I bet it's a large proportion. Enable WPA encryption at an absolute minimum.

Personally I think all wireless networking is inherently insecure, regardless of security measures. And not one of my clients with high security requirements would ever consider it. But I'm talking professionally now, not for home users!

Anyway we are rapidly veering from the OPs question

sorry - as a bit of novice, can someone explain what SSID is?

Also can someone clarify - does the wireless router i buy REPLACE the modem I have already (which is the Motorola SB4200)?

tahnks.

duchy

SSID is your network name -
When you display "available networks" you'll see for example next door's network which might be "sky 1234" as well as your own.
So when setting up wireless you need to make sure you click on your own SSID (or network name)