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StacyG's avatar
StacyG
Follower
Oct 28, 2020

SSID can not be hidden on Mesh RBR750 -Bad business decision

Just received RBR750 (less than 12 hrs old) It's not even selectable on this forum as a Model b/c it's that new.  Found that Netgear removed the ability to hide the SSID.  I chatted with Netgear Support and this is what they said:

 

"Netgear made a business decision to remove "Enable SSID Broadcast" since the feature is not really needed there is really no reason why we would want to disable SSID or SSID broadcast on a WiFi system.

5:47:57 AM

Disabling SSID broadcast only hides the network name from other users it does not hide the network itself because we cannot disguise the router's WiFi activity.

5:48:07 AM

Furthermore, with SSID disabled it just becomes more complicated for WiFi devices to connect to it so there is really no benefit to disabling the broadcast."

 

Ha, Security 101...hide the SSID.   I just asked for an RMA as the Neatger went on to tell me that they offer no other Mesh Networks that will allow me to hide the SSID.

 

Not sure which hacker made it the Corporate Office to make such a BAD decision but clearly the intent was to make it easier for hacker's to find our network's with no re-con and to be more cost effective to Netgear to not be bothered and keep support costs down by supporting people who may find it more difficult to simply click on "hidden network" when they are trying to connect a device.  Seems the better option would have been to allow us to hide our SSID and broadcast the Guest.

 

Guess I'll take my business elsewhere.  Shame on you Netgear.

 

1 Reply

  • schumaku's avatar
    schumaku
    Guru
    Oct 28, 2020

    Security and the false sense of it ... for several reasons.

     

    The most obvious: Hidden networks are attracting hackers - somebody has to hide something - let's go for it! Even if you are hiding the name in the beacon, the network is still around. Just because _you_ can't see it on your consumer device out of the boy, it's not more secure.

     

    The network is there, the network remains detectable, and announcing in at lest three or four different ways...

     

    The complete show stopper for your not so brilliant idea? Hiding (make the name nul) the SSID name from the broadcast does cause the wireless NIC to constantly disclose the SSID, even when out of range of your network.

     

    Yes, it was the method of choice some hunderd WiFi years ago. Times have changed.

     

    Now you might understand the Netgear's decision is smart and wise.