Problem with SSIDs
- If there are no wireless security options enabled on a network then anyone can connect to it by knowing only the SSID.
- Using a default SSID increases the chances that another nearby network will have the same name which can confuse wireless clients. When a Wi-Fi device discovers two networks with the same name, it will prefer and may try auto-connecting to the stronger radio signal, which might be the unwanted choice. In the worst case, a person might get dropped from their own home network and reconnected to a neighbor’s who does not have login protection enabled.
- The SSID chosen for a home network should contain only generic and sensible information. Some names (like HackMyWIFIIfYouCan) unnecessarily provoke thieves to target certain homes and networks over others.
- An SSID can contain publicly visible or offensive language or coded messages.
Service Set Identifier (SSID) in Computer Network
Service Set Identifier (SSID) is the primary name associated with an 802.11 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that includes home networks and public hotspots. Client devices use this name to identify and join wireless networks. For example, while trying to connect to a wireless network at work or school named guest_network you see several others within the range that are called something entirely different names. All the names you see are the SSIDs for those networks. Routers broadcast this name to help wireless clients find the network.