Disabled SSID broadcast showing up as "Other Network"

[CIS]

Disabled SSID broadcast showing up as "Other Network" [RESOLVED]

I have a pesky neighbor (a newly moved-back-home relative, long story) who continually wants to piggyback off my connection, and I am trying to prevent that without having to be very rude about it.

He has Windows 7 (so do we) and I've gone ahead and disabled the SSID broadcast from my router altogether, assuming that when he looks for my connection it won't be found. I was then simply going to tell him that we have unsubscribed from WiFi and are now only using Ethernet, instead of having to tell him "oh, we've changed the password and don't want to give it to you".

But it seems that even when SSID broadcasting is disabled, our network shows up as "Other Network" with full signal to him (and on my Windows 7 laptop). So it is quite obvious to him that we've simply changed the SSID and password, not that our wireless capabilities have been discontinued.

Why does a disabled SSID still show as "Other Network" in the list of available connections on Windows 7? Doesn't this defeat the entire purpose of disabling the SSID broadcast?

 

[chev65]

I think maybe you should have used a password on your WLAN to begin with. Once your SSID was used by your neighbor it stayed in his list of managed wireless networks so even if you turned off the SSID he can still see you there. Simply change or add a password using WPA2 which is best.

 

[letsdoamazing]

Heres what you tell him.

Sorry about the inconvenience, but you logging in on my connection slows my internet down to an unusable state, I would prefer for you to get your own. Nuff said.

 

[steve-pressman]

I would be very worried about this!

1. Illegal file sharing
2. Downloading of Pirated software/Movies
3. Internet Fraud
4. Identity Theft

Why have I listed those points. Simple they would all be traced back to you and you will be held responsible for them no if & but's!

You need to get some sort of encryption in place to stop him piggy backing.


Steve

 

[merkat106]

Here's my advice if your neighbor is still using your wifi:

1. Keep the SSID non-broadcasted
2. Change the SSID of your router so the neighbor won't automatically connect.

Once your SSID was used by your neighbor it stayed in his list of managed wireless networks so even if you turned off the SSID he can still see you there.

3. Implement WPA2 security on the router. It is the hardest wifi encryption to crack.

The other network option will still show up because even though your SSID isn't being broadcast, your network is broadcasted. Hidden SSID is only effective, in my opnion, if there is adaquate encryption.

 

[CIS]

Thanks for the replies guys, the advice is appreciated.

 

[Grayhair]

Here's my advice if your neighbor is still using your wifi:

1. Keep the SSID non-broadcasted
2. Change the SSID of your router so the neighbor won't automatically connect.

Once your SSID was used by your neighbor it stayed in his list of managed wireless networks so even if you turned off the SSID he can still see you there.

3. Implement WPA2 security on the router. It is the hardest wifi encryption to crack.

The other network option will still show up because even though your SSID isn't being broadcast, your network is broadcasted. Hidden SSID is only effective, in my opnion, if there is adaquate encryption.

Good advice, if I could add one more suggestion, you should be able to select the WIRELESS MAC filter of the router. You should be able to select either permit MAC addresses or prevent Mac addresses. This should eliminate your neighbor and anyone else you do not want to connect to your wireless.

 

[chev65]

True indeed Grayhair, mac filtering can keep someone from accessing your wireless network even if they have the password. My router mac filtering goes a step further and allows me to enter the computer name and the mac address for ever better security.

 

[mitchell65]

Hi CIS You don't say if you use the wireless within your household!

 

[Grayhair]

True indeed Grayhair, mac filtering can keep someone from accessing your wireless network even if they have the password. My router mac filtering goes a step further and allows me to enter the computer name and the mac address for ever better security.

Unfortunately CIS did not let us know what router is in use. I've been using Mac address filtering and have had no intruders. Depending on how many wireless systems CIS has this is a lot easier then changing the SSID.