A strong password and some basic security practices should be more than enough to keep WiFi thieves at bay, but it doesn't hurt to go a step further. Most routers offer an option in their advanced settings that helps you hide your WiFi network. How? Essentially, by "erasing" the SSID from the lists that devices show when searching for an available wireless network. This protection isn't foolproof, and it requires you to memorize your network name, but if you want to put another obstacle in the way, here it is.
The acronym SSID stands for "Service Set IDentifier", and in general terms it's the "name" of a WiFi network. The SSID is a very convenient way to separate wireless networks, and we recommend abandoning the factory defaults in favor of a more personalized description. Under normal conditions, the SSID is reported on any device trying to locate nearby networks, but if you want to stay under the radar, there's a way to hide your WiFi network.
Now, not all modems and routers allow this. Those used by internet providers (devices with outdated firmware full of bugs) often fail miserably here; however, if you have a more complete device or use an alternative firmware such as DD-WRT, the option will be there.
Hiding Your WiFi Network
The challenge when writing a tutorial like this is that the exact steps vary by modem or router model. Taking a generic approach, here's what to do:
- Access the device's configuration page (via 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.1, 10.0.0.1, or another address).
- Enter the username and password (admin/admin, admin/1234, or a similar combination).
- Visit the section dedicated to "WiFi" or "Wireless".
- There, look for a function with a name similar to "Hide SSID" or "Broadcast SSID".
Basically, they have the same purpose, though with opposite descriptions. The difference is that to hide your WiFi network you need to "enable" Hide SSID, or "disable" Broadcast SSID. On some devices, the change is immediate, but others will ask for a restart or a "power cycle" (turning it off and on).
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From this point on, your WiFi network won't be visible in device lists, and if you try to connect a new gadget or computer, you'll have to do it manually—entering the network name (case sensitive, respecting letters and symbols) as well as the password. Have you forgotten those details? Remember that in Windows 10 they're easy to recover.
