| SSID is short for Service Set Identifier, which is an | | | | is set on access point and broadcast to all wireless |
| identifier (composed of 32 characters which are | | | | devices within range. To improve network security, |
| case-sensitive and alphanumeric) attached to the | | | | some newer wireless access points disable automatic |
| header of packets sent over a wireless local area | | | | network name broadcast feature. Knowing the |
| network (WLAN). Though 32 characters may seem | | | | network name does not automatically mean you can |
| long, it displays as human-readable ASCII format. It then | | | | join the network. This ultimately depends on how the |
| functions as a password when a mobile device tries to | | | | network administrator configured the security features |
| connect to Basic Service Set (component of WLAN | | | | of the network (i.e. password encryption). |
| architecture). The Service Set Identifier is also | | | | The access points continuously broadcast radio signals |
| commonly used to identify a SSID Wifi network and its | | | | which can be received by client devices when |
| most important function is that it differentiates one | | | | enabled. It works like a secret key, whereby every |
| WLAN from another. All devices trying to connect to a | | | | user of the network must configure the network name |
| specific WLAN must use the same SSID. It can also | | | | into their system. To lock out a particular user from the |
| be identified easily in plain text; therefore it does not | | | | network, the administrator needs to change the |
| provide any network security feature. | | | | network name and reconfigure it on every network |
| Generally, it can be set manually (by entering the | | | | node. Many access points actually allow a user to turn |
| network name into the client's network settings) or | | | | off SSID Wifi network broadcast. This is an added |
| automatically (by leaving the field name blank). A | | | | security feature as users need to identify the correct |
| network administrator often uses a public network that | | | | network name. |