Connecting with SSID broadcasting off!

Admittedly, I am still on the lower side of the WLAN learning curve. I
have had my router up and running for some time (SMC2404WBR) with 4
alternating 256-bit WEP keys, MAC filtering and I have changed the
default SSID. Everything is running great except when I try to turn off
broadcasting of SSID my laptop looses the connection and tries
repeatedly to connect to a neighbours router. Is there a setting on the
laptop side I am missing?

How important is taking this final step in WLAN security (I live in an
urban area within a dense condo environment?

Thanks in advance.

Assuming you're using Windows XP, you have to add the SSID manually under
the properties of your wireless connection since it's no longer picked up
from broadcast. There's a preference list as well. Go to Control Panel,
Network Connections.

"-Lone_Wolf-" <-lone_wolf-@CLOTHESexcite.com> wrote in message
news:a55Ab.572533$9l5.312464@pd7tw2no...
> Admittedly, I am still on the lower side of the WLAN learning curve. I
> have had my router up and running for some time (SMC2404WBR) with 4
> alternating 256-bit WEP keys, MAC filtering and I have changed the
> default SSID. Everything is running great except when I try to turn off
> broadcasting of SSID my laptop looses the connection and tries
> repeatedly to connect to a neighbours router. Is there a setting on the
> laptop side I am missing?
>
> How important is taking this final step in WLAN security (I live in an
> urban area within a dense condo environment?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
>

Joe Hayes wrote:
> Assuming you're using Windows XP, you have to add the SSID manually
> under the properties of your wireless connection since it's no longer
> picked up from broadcast. There's a preference list as well. Go to
> Control Panel, Network Connections.

Thanks!

>
> How important is taking this final step in WLAN security (I live in an
> urban area within a dense condo environment?
>
Not important at all. Broadcasting SSID provides the illusion of security
by suppressing display of your AP to casual wardrivers But they are
harmless anyway (more akin to birdwatchers than hackers). Your SSID is
still not fully hidden, and will be revealed by active probing. Anyone with
the tools to crack WEP would certainly have the tools for the trivial task
of discovering your "non-broadcast" SSID.