Vista & connecting to wireless router

[Jerry West]

I have a new HP laptop running Windows Vista. My Linksys AP router is set at
default settings except for the SSID and the SSID broadcast feature. With
broadcasting turned on I have no trouble connecting to the router. If I turn
off broadcasting I cannot connect to the router. Using the config screen for
manually connecting to the router I enter the proper SSID. Vista tells me
that the SSID is already configured on the computer and do I want to use
that connection. I say yes and then I'm told it cannot connect. Of course,
if I turn broadcasting back on I connect effortlessly.

Obviously, the goal here is to have the AP router SSID broadcasting turned
off and the laptop connect to this router without any intervention from me.
Is this not possible?

JW

 

[Barb Bowman]

Why? Turning the broadcast off really isn't going to protect you
from someone who really wants to access your network. If you use
WPA2 (or at least WPA with a strong random passphrase that can't be
broken with a dictionary attack), you should be very safe.

Obviously, the goal here is to have the AP router SSID broadcasting turned
off and the laptop connect to this router without any intervention from me.
Is this not possible?

--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Barb Bowman]

See http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb726942.aspx as
well.

I have a new HP laptop running Windows Vista. My Linksys AP router is set at
default settings except for the SSID and the SSID broadcast feature. With
broadcasting turned on I have no trouble connecting to the router. If I turn
off broadcasting I cannot connect to the router. Using the config screen for
manually connecting to the router I enter the proper SSID. Vista tells me
that the SSID is already configured on the computer and do I want to use
that connection. I say yes and then I'm told it cannot connect. Of course,
if I turn broadcasting back on I connect effortlessly.

Obviously, the goal here is to have the AP router SSID broadcasting turned
off and the laptop connect to this router without any intervention from me.
Is this not possible?

JW

--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Jerry West]

Doing so does have value in as much as it prevents the casual neighborhood
user from connecting to the router. For example, my neighbors often see a
list of available, unsecured networks and simply choose one from the list to
connect to. If mine isn't in their list they aren't aware of me and do not
connect. It is just this situation that I was wanting to prevent. I can do
so quickly by turning off broadcasting. This works great for a Gateway
laptop I have but doesn't for the HP Vista laptop. I was hoping to
understand why. I realize I can simply turn on WEP and likely will. I still
would like to understand why it doesn't work in Vista. If someone knows
please do share!

JW

 

[Pavel A.]

Try to find this "already configured" profile and delete it.
Open _Manage wireless networks_ - is it visible there?

--PA

 

[Al Dunbar]

Doing so does have value in as much as it prevents the casual neighborhood
user from connecting to the router. For example, my neighbors often see a
list of available, unsecured networks and simply choose one from the list
to connect to. If mine isn't in their list they aren't aware of me and do
not connect. It is just this situation that I was wanting to prevent. I
can do so quickly by turning off broadcasting. This works great for a
Gateway laptop I have but doesn't for the HP Vista laptop. I was hoping to
understand why. I realize I can simply turn on WEP and likely will.

ACK! or rather NAK! Not only is turning off broadcasting the SSID *not* a
security feature; not enabling *any* security protocol such as WEP (or
better still WAP2) is a security *vulnerability*.

/Al

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
Security is Not just a matter of a neighbor leeching to your connection and
stealing few Mb/sec, of bandwidth.
If you do not use encryption your Wireless is transmitted in clear, thus
people can sniff the traffic and get personal sensitive info and you would
not even know.
From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.

No Security
MAC______(Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Brake" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Brake ).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).

Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.

Note 2: If you use WinXP and did not updated it you would have to download
the WPA2 patch from Microsoft. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357

The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless
Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with
your Wireless hardware.

All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass
phrase.

Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible
of one of the Wireless devices.

I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the
max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of
WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.

If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can
do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the
device with a better one.

Setting Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

The Core differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2 -
http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html

Jack (MVP-Networking).

 

[Barb Bowman]

WEP can be broken in the time it takes to read this thread.

Doing so does have value in as much as it prevents the casual neighborhood
user from connecting to the router. For example, my neighbors often see a
list of available, unsecured networks and simply choose one from the list to
connect to. If mine isn't in their list they aren't aware of me and do not
connect. It is just this situation that I was wanting to prevent. I can do
so quickly by turning off broadcasting. This works great for a Gateway
laptop I have but doesn't for the HP Vista laptop. I was hoping to
understand why. I realize I can simply turn on WEP and likely will. I still
would like to understand why it doesn't work in Vista. If someone knows
please do share!

JW

--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/

 

[Al Dunbar]

Further to Jack's comments, it should be noted that it is possible for some
equipment that comes WEP-only to be upgraded to WPA, so don't throw any
equipment out before checking into this possibility.

/Al

 

[Guest]

What a HORRIBLE response. He asked how can he have his SSID broadcasting
turned off and still have his PC running Vista connect to the internet.

Why should you care about the reason?

Does MVP mean that you only answer questions based on what you would use a
function for?

 

[Guest]

So there is absolutely no sense in trying to keep it even less visible?

You are right, someone who is determined to get one can. But, if you
broadcast your network ID, you are encouraging those people who are not as
determined to go ahead and attempt to jump on.

What a joke...

 

[Guest]

Thank you for the useful information when it comes to networking security...

....however, can you answer the question asked?

How do I get my PC running Vista to connect to a wireless network when the
SSID is not broadcasting?

(Just so you know, I use WPA-PSK and not WEP. I am also well aware that the
determined "hacker" can still find my network without the network ID being
broadcast and despite my WPA-PSK security.)

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

What a HORRIBLE response. He asked how can he have his SSID broadcasting
turned off and still have his PC running Vista connect to the internet.

Why should you care about the reason?

Does MVP mean that you only answer questions based on what you would use a
function for?

MVPs try to fix the problem, not the symptom. Turning the SSID off, and making
it work, won't be fixing the problem. Turning the SSID off doesn't even hide
you, most WiFi clients detect APs with the SSID turned off - they have to so
they don't transmit while an AP with no SSID is transmitting.

An AP that's invisible can expect to be unstable, as nearby APs will be
transmitting right over it. This results in dropped packets, and
retransmissions, for both APs. And crappy bandwidth for everybody.

Ever see the movie "The Invisible Man"? What were the 2 lessons (well 2 of
them) that he learned?

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[Barb Bowman]

there are more "determined" people driving around and hanging around
then you may realize. sorry you didn't find the explanations of
value.

So there is absolutely no sense in trying to keep it even less visible?

You are right, someone who is determined to get one can. But, if you
broadcast your network ID, you are encouraging those people who are not as
determined to go ahead and attempt to jump on.

What a joke...

--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/