Someone is broadcasting SSID

C

CarlosAntenna

A laptop user on my network is broadcasting a SSID for an unsecured
computer-to-computer network. He uses the wireless connection while he is
on the road, and plugs into the wired network here in the office.

I am concerned that he may be providing a bridge into our network.

Are my concerns valid? How do I turn off the computer-to-computer
networking on his laptop?
 
C

Chuck

A laptop user on my network is broadcasting a SSID for an unsecured
computer-to-computer network. He uses the wireless connection while he is
on the road, and plugs into the wired network here in the office.

I am concerned that he may be providing a bridge into our network.

Are my concerns valid? How do I turn off the computer-to-computer
networking on his laptop?

Carlos,

What you're suggesting is a vague possibility. WiFi clients do not broadcast a
beacon, as WiFi APs do. The WiFi AP broadcasting the SSID beacon is a mythical
security risk.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/disabling-ssid.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/disabling-ssid.html

Although the SSID is not being broadcast as a beacon, it may be possible for a
bad guy to detect it using more imaginative software. A man in the middle
attack then could be mounted, and it would be at least theoretically possible to
setup a hostile base station beaconing with that SSID, allow the laptop to
connect, and gain access to the laptop, and to any connected networks.

It is common sense practice, and common courtesy, to disable the radio on any
laptop when not intentionally connecting to a known and trusted WiFi network.
Every laptop with built-in WiFi has a switch for the radio (it's essential, to
save battery power).

Sometimes, it's a combination of keys, maybe Fn-F5 for instance. With my HP
laptop, there is a single, very conspicuous button. If the laptop has WiFi thru
a PC card, or thru a USB adaptor, the WiFi device can be removed or
disconnected.

Any laptop user almost has to know how to turn the radio off. If this guy
doesn't know, you need to educate him.
 

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