How do I confirm my wireless network is closed

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Level 1

10 points

How do I confirm my wireless network is closed

How can I tell for sure whether my network is closed, other than checking the settings for network on base station configuration page in Airport Admin Utility? I don't know anyone within range who could take a look at their available networks list to see whether mine is showing up (as I don't want).

I thought that after opting to create a closed network (personal,not enterprise), even I would not be able to see my network name when I click on the Airport status icon which displays a list of networks available to join. But it's listed there.

G5 PPC, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Safari 4.0.3, iTunes 9, Airport Express

Posted on Sep 19, 2009 11:43 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Duane

Level 10

124,267 points

Sep 19, 2009 2:09 PM in response to mackedout

"closed" network is a misnomer since the network name is still broadcast between any connected client and the base station. Therefore the network name is discoverable in seconds.

Don't fool yourself into thinking that this affords any security.

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Answer 2

Tesserax

Level 10

148,727 points

Sep 19, 2009 2:11 PM in response to mackedout

Regardless if you enable "Create a closed network," your wireless Network Name or SSID can easily be found by tools readably available from the Internet. This option is only meant to thwart the most casual of computer users from "finding" your network.

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Answer 3

mackedout Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 1, 2009 6:45 PM in response to Tesserax

Thanks much for the comments. Yes, I am aware the network name is easily discoverable with right tools and that hiding it by closing network offers no security as such.

Nonethless, I wish to close the network and have network name not so readily visible for reasons of my own. Thus I would still like to know the answer to my question.

?? Maybe there IS no way to confirm other than having someone nearby physically look to see whether my network name appears when they check for joinable networks.

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Answer 4

Tesserax

Level 10

148,727 points

Oct 1, 2009 6:56 PM in response to mackedout

Maybe there IS no way to confirm other than having someone nearby physically look to see whether my network name appears when they check for joinable networks.

This may be a reasonable approach. Note; however, different network clients (Mac, PC, Linux) will treat this differently. Some may not display the Network Name. Others, especially if they have connected to this network before, may.

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Answer 5

mackedout Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 4, 2009 5:04 PM in response to Tesserax

Hmmm, interesting about the network clients. A friend recently told me one of his family member's network was closed, but as soon as he got within range he could see it on her laptop. She thought perhaps her Mac remembered from being previously connected. Perhaps I'll forget about this notion 🙂 Thanks for the response.

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Answer 6

yugbre

Level 1

29 points

Oct 5, 2009 10:52 AM in response to mackedout

Some clients will end up displaying closed networks anyways. Under the covers a station that knows the name of the network probes for it and get response, the scanning station notes the probe and probe response and displays the hidden network.

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