How to Configure Windows Vista to Connect to a Wireless network in which SSID broadcast is Disabled

There are various security measures that are common with wireless networks that prevent eaves dropping and bandwidth pirating from unwelcome guests. Included in the list of common wireless security countermeasures is turning off the broadcast SSID feature. Although trivial to circumvent, making a wireless network invisible to unwanted guests is desirable as it adds another layer of security and also attracts less attention from those that are looking for vulnerable wireless networks to which they can connect. Microsoft Windows Vista, however, can be difficult to work with in a non-broadcast SSID wireless environment depending upon how Vista has been configured. By following the instructions below, a Windows Vista computer can be configured to connect to a non-broadcast SSID wireless network (Vista will not connect to a non-broadcast SSID wireless network by default).

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• This article
• A computer with Microsoft Windows Vista installed
• An 802.11 wireless network (wifi)

1. First, on the windows Vista computer, click Start and then Control Panel and then Network and Internet then Network and Sharing Center.

2. Next, click on Manage Wireless Networks and then right click on the wireless network connection icon you wish to use (usually there is only one wireless network adapter) and then select Properties.

3. Now click the check box next to "Connect Even if the Network is not Broadcasting" and then click OK and then restart the computer.

4. Test to confirm that the Windows Vista computer can now connect to the wireless network.

Tips & Warnings

• Note that the best solution is to enable "Broadcast SSID" on the wireless network access point (AP) and leave Windows Vista configuration at default. Even though Broadcast SSID is less secure, as stated above, it is trivial to find wireless networks that do not broadcast their SSID and enabling the Broadcast SSID setting will ease connecting to the wireless network.