Most broadband routers and other wireless access points automatically broadcast their network name, the service set identifier, usually abbreviated SSID, every few seconds into the open air. SSID broadcasts help customers see and connect to the network. Otherwise, they have to know the name and connect to it manually.
Do you need to hide your wireless SSID?
Most routers offer an option to broadcast the SSID or not.
Think of an analogy with a burglar. Locking the door when you leave the house is a wise decision because it prevents the average burglar from simply walking in. However, a determined burglar will either break through the door, force the lock, or enter through a window.
Likewise, keeping your SSID hidden is a better decision, but it’s not a foolproof security measure. Someone with the right tools and enough time could sniff your network’s traffic, find the SSID, and intrude further into your network. Suppressing SSIDs creates an additional point of friction, like being the only house on the block with a locked door. People who like to steal network data to free ride on a Wi-Fi signal will often go for the lowest-hanging fruit (i.e., broadcast SSIDs in range) before they bother to packet-sniff a suppressed SSID.
