You might have come across the term SSID when trying to set up a wireless network. However, this term is not as common as a Wi-Fi network or password. But when you want the best security for your Wi-Fi network, you must understand what an SSID is and how it helps one identify their Wi-Fi network. In this guide, I shall provide an overview of SSIDs, how they work, and how you can manage them.
What is a Service Set Identifier (SSID)?
A Service Set Identifier, commonly known as an SSID, is another term for the name of your Wi-Fi network. Each Wi-Fi network has an SSID, and it is supposed to be unique so that devices can differentiate between them.
You can draw an analogy between an SSID and your name. We shall deal with complexities later.
You can view a list of all the SSIDs active in your area when you open your smartphone or computer and search for available Wi-Fi networks. Depending on whether a user has changed the SSID, it could be anything like Glen’s Coffeehouse or TP-Link 5690T.
Therefore, as far as Wi-Fi networks are concerned, SSID is another name for the Wi-Fi network name. You’d understand that the term SSID may have a different meaning in another industry/context.
How Do SSIDs Work?
I already told you that an SSID is the identifier for your Wi-Fi network. Because Wi-Fi networks are supposed to work as a point that other devices connect to, they need to broadcast this information continuously. So, the process of SSID working is also called SSID broadcasting. This means the router at your home or office will constantly broadcast the SSID name depending on the band and other router settings.
When a device wishes to connect to the Wi-Fi network, it should first select the desired SSID from the many broadcast SSID data. Then, based on network security preferences, the device has to authenticate using the network password. After a couple of exchanges, a network can connect to the Wi-Fi network. As you can see, a Wi-Fi network cannot function without an SSID.
Here are a few characteristics of a network SSID.
- You can change the SSID of your network as many times as you wish. Most Wi-Fi routers ship with a default SSID, but people choose a unique SSID for easy identification.
- The maximum length of a network SSID is 32 characters, and you can use alphanumeric and special characters as the SSID.
- In addition to Wi-Fi routers and dedicated network equipment, mobile hotspots will also have SSIDs for their networks.
So, while there are some similarities between them, a network SSID and password are different.
Aspect | SSID | Password |
|---|---|---|
Visibility | Visible to all | Hidden, only entered by users |
Purpose | Identifies the network | Secures network access |
Length | Up to 32 characters | Minimum 8 characters recommended |
Security Impact | No direct impact on security | Critical for network security |
Customizability | Can be customized or left default | Must be strong, mix of characters |
Change Impact | Requires reconnecting devices | Forces reauthentication of all devices |
Visibility | Can be hidden (limited security gain) | Must be private for security |
Now that you know what an SSID is and how it works, we shall see how you can manage it.
How to Find and Change Your SSID Name
First, I will tell you how you can find the SSID of your current network.
Finding the SSID of Your Wi-Fi Network
Regardless of the router manufacturer and model, you can use the following methods to find out the SSID of the current Wi-Fi network.
Check the Router Package
If you don’t remember changing the SSID in the first place, you can check the default SSID of the network by looking at the router/router package. The package would contain the default SSID and password. It would look something like TP-Link 349234 or DL-1234. You can use this information to identify the network among the many SSIDs.
Check from Your Device
If you have changed the SSID, it will be different from the default SSID. To find an SSID, you can check the Wi-Fi Settings of any connected device. For instance,
- On Windows, you can click the Wi-Fi button and find out the SSID of the network your device is connected to.
- On Android, you can find the SSID of the connected network from either Settings or the control center.
- On iPhone and iPad, you can find the SSID of the network by going to Settings > Wi-Fi.
You can use almost the same method to find the password for the connected Wi-Fi network. However, you must authenticate your administrative account first. For instance, on your Android smartphone, you might have to unlock the device via password/biometrics.
In addition to these two methods, some advanced tools may also help you know the SSID of your network. But if you aren’t successful with these methods, you can always reset your Wi-Fi router. Doing so will set the default SSID and password.
Changing the SSID of Your Wi-Fi Network
Once you have found the SSID of your Wi-Fi network, you might want to change it. This is particularly the case if you are still using a random SSID that your router came with. Doing so has a couple of issues.
First, you may have trouble identifying your wireless network from a list. Second, there is a very slight chance that an open SSID may cause unwanted attention from third actors. Therefore, it makes sense to customize the SSID of your Wi-Fi network.
To change the SSID of your Wi-Fi network,
- Find the default IP address of your Wi-Fi network and open the router management portal. In most cases, it may be 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.
- Once you have logged in using the admin panel credentials, navigate to Settings > Wi-Fi Network.
- On this page, you can find the current network SSID.
- You can enter the new SSID; make sure you don’t cross the 32-character limit.
- Once you confirm the setting change, the Wi-Fi router will reboot
In a few seconds, you can see the new SSID present on the list of available networks. By the way, remember that changing the SSID will disconnect all previously connected devices from the network. It happens as the SSID is the core identifier.
By the way, it is easier to change the SSID of the mobile hotspot on your smartphone. You can go to Settings and choose a new name for the SSID.
What is a Hidden SSID?
As the name suggests, a hidden SSID refers to an SSID that cannot be detected by Wi-Fi-enabled devices in your vicinity. This feature is sometimes used to enhance security by preventing the SSID from being visible to others. One potential benefit is that if you do not want everyone accessing your Wi-Fi network, hiding the SSID adds a layer of security beyond just the password.
When a hidden SSID is enabled, the Wi-Fi router does not broadcast the SSID information, meaning devices cannot select the network from a list. Instead, they must manually join the network by entering the SSID and password.
There are pros and cons to using a hidden SSID. A disadvantage is that it may be difficult for guests or others to find the network. However, if you are particularly concerned about privacy and security, this feature may be beneficial.
To set up a hidden SSID, you can access the router’s management panel and toggle the SSID broadcast option. This action will prevent others from discovering the SSID in the available network list.
The advantage is that all devices previously connected to the network will remain connected since they already have the SSID and password stored. Therefore, this method could offer an additional way to secure your network.
You can also set up the Auto Reconnect feature while enabling hidden SSID. Doing so makes things easy, as your device will automatically connect to the Wi-Fi network whenever it is in range. But you may want to turn this feature off if you want best-in-class security.
How to Secure Your SSID
You can follow these steps to ensure that your SSID is secure.
- Whenever possible, make sure that you use a unique SSID for the network; the more unique, the better.
- Always avoid using the default SSID and password combination that came with the Wi-Fi router. This step alone can protect your network from multiple threats.
- If you want additional security, you may consider hiding the SSID for the network. It isn’t a huge task to find a hidden SSID, but it might make you feel better.
With these steps, you can have better control over who sees your Wi-Fi SSID and accesses the network.
What If Multiple Wireless Networks Have the Same SSID?
As I said before, there aren’t many restrictions when it comes to assigning an SSID to a wireless network. Just as two people can have the same name, two wireless networks can also share the same SSID.
What happens in such cases depends on how these networks behave. For instance, if there are two Wi-Fi networks with identical SSIDs, but you have previously connected to one of them, your device will attempt to connect to the familiar network. As long as the password and username combination is correct, you will be able to connect without any issues.
However, if you have not connected to either network or see two networks with identical SSID, your device may randomly choose one to connect to. In some cases, this can lead to confusion or potential issues.
There are times when threat actors create a fake network with an identical SSID. They do this because people may connect to these networks. These networks are rigged to gain unauthorized access and get sensitive data from your device. So, you must be wary of these attacks when you see two identical SSIDs on the list.
Frequently Asked Questions
If an SSID is hidden, the network would not appear on the list of available networks. If a device wishes to connect to the network, it must enter the SSID and the password manually.
In a network, SSID is the unique identifier for a service set, such as Wi-Fi. In most cases, the SSID is the name of the Wi-Fi network itself.
You can connect to the SSID by selecting it from the list of available options. You may have to provide the password as well.
Conclusion
I believe this guide has explained everything you wanted to know about SSIDs and Wi-Fi networks. They do more than help you identify the wireless network. From a security standpoint, I recommend keeping the SSID unique and safe.
