According to something I spotted something in a set of directions for connecting to a hidden wireless network from windows 8 found here (located under Step 1 > 'Troubleshoot connection problems' > 'How do I connect to a hidden wireless network?'):
A hidden wireless network is a wireless network that isn't broadcasting its network ID (SSID). Typically, wireless networks broadcast their name, and your PC “listens” for the name of the network that it wants to connect to. Because a hidden network doesn’t broadcast, your PC can't find it, so the network has to find your PC. For this to happen, your PC must broadcast both the name of the network it's looking for and its own name. In this situation, other PCs “listening” for networks will know the name of your PC as well as the network you’re connected to, which increases the risk of your PC being attacked.(emphasis added)
I had always believed that hidden wireless networks were actually safer than normal ones, because only those who already know of the network are able to connect to it, so an attacker wouldn't be able to connect to it to listen to your traffic.
Are hidden networks actually more risky, as the paragraph says, and if so, what measures can be taken to help mitigate the risk?
Also, I know that there are some countries where publicly broadcasting home networks are actually illegal, and hidden networks are the only option for wireless. If broadcasting networks are safer, why are they illegal in some places?
AJMansfield
AJMansfieldAJMansfield
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3 Answers
The risk here is in believing that a 'hidden SSID' changes anything to the security. A non-hidden SSID means that the router will shout at regular intervals 'hello everybody, I am Joe the Router, you may talk to me !'. A hidden SSID means that the client machine (not the attacker's machine) will shout at regular intervals 'Hey, Joe, where are you ? Please respond !'. Either way, assuming that the SSID (here, 'Joe') is not known to any attacker would be overly naive.
A point that could be made is that when the SSID is hidden, then an attacker may assume that the SSID is valuable in some way; so, when your PC connects, your PC shows that it knows the valuable SSID, and thus is also a valuable target in some sense. Not that it would change much things in practice: attackers will attack everything in range anyway, as a matter of principle.
Thomas PorninThomas Pornin
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Non-broadcast wireless networks aren't inherently less secure, but they're not more secure either. Hiding your wireless network (not broadcasting its SSID) doesn't make your network actually hidden as there are many tools that can help you find 'hidden' networks, such as Kismet and inSSIDer.
If configured to do so, Windows Vista and Windows 7 will have to 'ping' in the air to find the hidden network. Because of that, when you're not connected to the network, you'll be advertising that you're trying to connect to network X. If someone is listening to these signals, they can easily find out that you have a network called X to which your computer is attempting to connect.
As for the legal issue, I've actually heard that in some jurisdiction it's illegal to leave your network open, but I have never really heard that you have to hide it.
AdiAdi
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There is no extra risk associated with connecting to a hidden network over a non-hidden one. What matters is who else is connected to that network, and what their intentions are.
When you connect to any network, you are giving all other users of that network access to a very large surface area in terms of your machine's security.
See this answer for more information on what risks are involved in this.
But to reiterate the answer to your overall question; no, whether the network is hidden or not is not really relevant. All you should care about is who else is connected.
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Sep. 25, 2018 / Updated by Bessie Shaw to Windows 10
In order to prevent others from connecting your wireless network, you create a hidden Wi-Fi network in Windows 10, but finally even your own computer can't connect to this hidden wireless network. Don’t be frustrated. Here’s the guide show you how to connect to a hidden Wi-Fi network on a Windows 10 computer.
About Hidden Wi-Fi Network
Every Wi-Fi network has a name in order to identify it among others. While setting up a Wi-Fi network, one could choose to not to broadcast the network name (SSID) to create a hidden Wi-Fi network, so-called a closed Wi-Fi network. It is not visible in the list of available networks.
Steps to Connect to Your Own Hidden Wi-Fi Network in Windows 10
Of course, you could change your router to broadcast the wireless network's name, and then identify your Wi-Fi network and finally connect to it. But if you still think a hidden Wi-Fi network makes you feel secure, you could follow steps below to connect your computer to your default hidden wireless network in Windows 10.
Step 1. Right-click the Network icon in the notification area
Step 2. Select Network and Sharing Center
Step 3. Select your hidden Wi-Fi network's name
Step 4. Click on Wireless Properties on the Wi-Fi Status box
Step 5. Check the Connect even if the network is not broadcasting its name check box
These WiFi-related posts may also interest you:
Connecting to Hidden Wi-Fi Networks in Windows 10
Follow these steps to connect to a hidden Wi-Fi network that you haven’t connected to on a Windows 10 computer.
Step 1. Right-click the Network icon in the notification area
Step 2. Select Network and Sharing Center
Step 3. Click Set up a new connection or network
Step 4. Select Manually connect to a wireless network
Step 5. Click Next
Step 6. Enter the SSID in the Network name field
Step 7. Select the security type of the hidden wireless network
Step 8. Enter the right password
Step 9. Check the Start this connection automatically check box if you want to connect your computer to this Wi-Fi network automatically
Step 10. Check the Connect even if the network is not broadcasting check box
Step 11. Click Next
Step 12. Click Close once the Wi-Fi network has been successfully added
These WiFi-related posts may also interest you:
Download and Update Wireless Drivers for Windows 10
To avoid Windows 10 Wi-Fi problems, such as no Wi-Fi available, you'd better regularly download and update your wireless drivers. The easiest method is to use an automatic driver download utility like Driver Talent to do it, which could smartly detect your wireless driver issue in seconds, and then automatically download and install the most compatible Wi-Fi driver for your Windows 10 computer.
Click the button below to get Driver Talent directly.
Below are 3 straightforward steps to use Driver Talent to download and update wireless network drivers for Windows 10 easily and quickly.
1. Scan Your Computer
Launch Driver Talent. Click 'Scan' to make a full scan of your PC to identify all your outdated, corrupt, broken or missing device drivers, including your problematic wireless driver.
2. Download and Update Windows 10 Wireless Driver
If a faulty wireless network driver exists, you can click 'Repair' and Driver Talent will automatically download and install the updated Windows 10 Wi-Fi driver to fix it. You are also able to click 'Update' to keep all your drivers up to date, but don't update what ain't broken.
3. Restart Your Computer
Make a restart of your PC to make the wireless driver update take effect.
See Also:
Note: It's worth noting that Driver Talent also supports drivers backup, drivers restore, system restore, drivers pre-download for another PC, PC Repair, hardware detection, VR support check and PC speed up, etc.
Create a Wi-Fi Hotspot in Windows 10
If you want your smartphones, tablets or other mobile devices to connect to your Windows 10 computer, you could create a Wi-Fi hotspot, please see How to Make a Safe Wi-Fi Hotspot on Windows 10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista for instructions.
If you have any questions about connecting to a hidden Wi-Fi network in Windows 10, make sure to comment below this post to get more help. Also, if you encounter other problem after the latest Windows 10 update, please drop a line below or click the support menu on the left of this page. We'll try our best to help you. Hope you continue to have access to Windows 10 section on this site as well as provide support.
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I am really liking Windows 10, I think it's clean and organized. But one feature is really annoying to me. In previous versions of windows, if you wanted to connect to a hidden network, you simply selected 'Connect to a hidden network.' Then you supplied an SSID and password and the OS would take care of connecting you. With Win10, hidden networks act just like normal ones, so you see a whole list of hidden networks and have to guess which one is yours. I just spent about 40 minutes going through a list of hidden networks trying to connect without success. I actually had to change my router to broadcast the SSID in order to finally connect.
There should definitely be a way for Win10 to do the job of figuring out which hidden network is the right one without me having to play guessing games. Prior OSes did this.
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Sep. 13, 2018 / Updated by Bessie Shaw to Windows 10
It's frustrating to receive the 'Windows 10 can't connect to this network' error message. If you are also one of them, here are a couple of methods to solve the Windows 10 can't connect to this network problem, also applied to Windows 10 Creators Update, Fall Creators Update 1709 and Spring Creators Update 1803.
Method 1. Uninstall Your Network Adapter to Fix Windows 10 Can't Connect to This Network
Once you find that your Windows 10 can’t connect to the network, you could try to uninstall your network adapter. Follow these steps:
Step 1. Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager from the pop-up menu
Step 2. In the Device Manager dialog box, right-click on your network adapter and click Uninstall
Step 3. Check the Delete the driver software for this device optionand then click OK.
Step 4. Reboot your computer and Windows will automatically install the proper driver software.
Method 2. Update Network Adapter Driver
In most situations, the Windows 10 can’t connect to this network problem lies in the outdated network adapter driver. To solve it, you shall update your network adapter driver. If you are a computer novice, you’d better use a free professional driver download and update utility tool, such as Driver Talent, which could help you find out your problematic network adapter driver within a few seconds and then automatically download and install the most compatible version in two minutes.
Click the button below to free download Driver Talent.
Follow the step-by-step guide to use Driver Talent to download and update your wireless network adapter driver to solve the Windows 10 can’t connect to this network problem.
1. Scan Your PC
Open up Driver Talent. Click 'Scan' to start a safe scan of your computer. Once the scan is complete, your outdated, corrupted, broken or missing network adapter driver in seconds.
2. Update Your Adapter Driver to Fix Windows 10 Can't Connect to This Network
Your erroneous network adapter driver could be fixed by one-clicking 'Repair'. Driver Talent will download and install the best-matched network driver for Windows 10 behind the scene. You also have the option to update all your drivers to the latest version by click 'Update'. But don't update what ain't broken for stability reason.
3. Restart Your PC
Don't forget to restart your computer to make the network adapter driver update come into effect.
Note: Be sure to use Driver Talent to back up you drivers before installing any new drivers in case of driver crashes or other unexpected problems.
See Also: How to Free Download, Update Wireless Network Driver -- Fix Wireless Network Driver Problems
Aside from drivers download and update, Driver Talent involves other premium features, such as drivers restore, drivers uninstall, drivers pre-download for another PC, PC Repair (no sound, no video, no Wi-Fi, etc.), hardware detection, VR support check and PC speed up, etc.
Method 3. Disable IPv6
You could also try to disable IPv6 to resolve the Windows 10 can't connect to this network problem issue. Just do the following steps:
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Step1. Hold down Windows key + R altogether to open the Run command
Windows 10 Connect To Hidden Network App
Step 2. Type ncpa.cpl and hit Enter
Step 3. Right-click on your network adapter and click Properties
Step 4. Uncheck the Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) check box and then click OK
Method 4. Use Network Troubleshooting Commands
If the Windows 10 can't connect to this network issue still persists, you could run the network troubleshooting commands. To do it, take the following steps:
Step 1. Press Windows key + X simultaneously, and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the list of results
Step 2. In the command prompt window, run the following commands in the listed order and then hit Enter
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip reset
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
Note: There is a space between ipconfig and the slash.
Step 3. Close the Command Prompt window once the commands have been successfully executed
Step 4. Reboot your computer
Method 5. Run Windows Network Troubleshooter
You could also try to run the Network troubleshooter to diagnose the connection problems and then fix the Windows 10 can't connect to this network bug. You need to do the following:
Step 1. Go to Search, type network troubleshooter in the search box and then select Identify and repair network problems from the listed results
Step 2. Follow the steps in the troubleshooter and let the process finish and see if it can fix the Windows 10 can't connect to this network problem
These network-related posts may also interest you:
If you have some questions about the fixes for the Windows 10 can’t connect to this network error, please feel free to drop a line or two in the comments section below.
With Windows 10 version 1803, Microsoft has removed the ability to create a new HomeGroup. With the removal of the feature, Windows 10 has issues with showing certain computers over the Windows Network (SMB), leaving them invisible in the Network folder of File Explorer. Here is a quick fix you can apply.
RECOMMENDED: Click here to fix Windows errors and optimize system performance
The HomeGroup feature is a simplified solution from Microsoft to provide file sharing ability between all computers in your home network without the hassles of complex permissions, setting up folder shares and accessing them via UNC paths. With HomeGroup, you were able to share photos, music and videos files, various office documents and also printers. Also, you could allow other family members to change files that you have shared.
According to Microsoft, Windows HomeGroup was a terrific feature in the pre-cloud and pre-mobile era, but now it is outdated. The company now offers the following alternatives for file sharing:
By default, computers in your local network should be visible when you browse for a network device with File Explorer. With recent changes in Windows 10 version 1803 some computers are only accessible via their names or IP addresses. To fix this annoying issue, you can apply a simple workaround.
Windows 10 Unable To Connect To Hidden NetworkFix Network Computers are Not Visible in Windows 10 Version 1803
You are done!
To save your time, you can use Winaero Tweaker. It comes with the following option:
Turn on the option to fix the issue.
For reference, see the following articles:
Source: deskmodder.de.
RECOMMENDED: Click here to fix Windows errors and optimize system performance
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