How to Add Non-Broadcasting SSID to a Laptop
Wireless routers can create hidden wireless networks by not broadcasting the network’s name, or SSID. A non-broadcasting SSID won’t appear in the automatically-detected list of available networks on Windows and other operation systems. You can manually add a Wi-Fi network with a non-broadcasting SSID to your laptop and connect to it. You must know the Wi-Fi network’s SSID and the security settings it requires to add the network.
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Instructions
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Click the “Network” icon in the notification area at the bottom right corner of your screen. Select “Open Network and Sharing Center” at the bottom of the menu that appears.
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Click “Set Up a New Connection or Network” under Change Your Networking Settings in the Network and Sharing Center window that appears.
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Select “Manually Connect to a Wireless Network” on the Choose a Connection Option screen and click “Next.”
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4
Type the SSID of the non-broadcasting Wi-Fi network into the "Network Name" box.
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Select the Wi-Fi network’s security settings from the Security Type and Encryption Type drop-down boxes. Windows can’t automatically detect this information if the network isn’t broadcasting.
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Type the network’s pass phrase into the "Security Key/Passphrase" box.
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Click the “Connect Even if This Network is Non-broadcasting” box.
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Click “Next” and select “Connect To” to connect to the network.
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Tips & Warnings
Microsoft recommends not using a non-broadcasting SSID. Your computer sends out probe packets to find the non-broadcasting SSID. A malicious user could use the probe packets to create a new access point, pretending to be the hidden wireless network and endangering your privacy.
References
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