Name your network by changing its SSID

Pt. 3 of 10 | 3:17 |

Understanding your Home Network Router

Wednesday July 15, 2009

The

SSID of your network

is a funny way of saying "friendly network name." An SSID helps you to

find your network

when you're trying to connect new devices. Changing your router's name has the benefit of making it easier to find for family and friends you want to allow to connect. However, changing your router's SSID from the default name has the added benefit of

deterring would-be hackers

by giving them one less key piece of information about your network. Specifically, what brand of router you have.

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Show Notes

- SSID is a term that's often confusing to newer users.

-

SSID stands for Service Set ID

.

- SSID is really just the friendly name of your network.

- The SSID can be up to 32 characters in length.

- Many users pick their last name as an SSID.

- Some users also use a clever name, a family nickname and so on.

- You should not keep your SSID as the default that may have come with your router.

- For example if your Netgear router has a default SSID of "Netgear" you should change it.

- Leaving a router SSID with a default name like Intel, Linksys, Netgear, and the like makes you more open to attacks.

- Many users believe that if they don't broadcast their SSID it is a security plus

- In point of fact this isn't true and anyone with a basic understanding of networks can "sniff" out your SSID in a minute.

- Better to enable SSID broadcast and pick good security options for your router instead.

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