SSID
The Service Set IDentifier (SSID) is a token which identifies an 802.11 (Wi-Fi) network.
It is a secret key set by the network administrator which you must know to join an 802.11 network.
It can be discovered by network sniffing. since it is part of the packet header for every packet sent over the WLAN.
SSID Security Issues
The fact that it is a secret key and not a public key creates a key management problem for the network administrator.
Every user of the network have the SSID configured into their system so If the network administrator seeks to lock a user out of the network, the administrator must change the SSID and reconfigure the SSID on every network node.
Default SSID’s
802.11 access point vendors allow the use of an SSID to enable an 802.11 NIC to connect to any 802.11 network. This is known to work with wireless equipment from Buffalo Technologies, Cisco, D-Link, Enterasys, Intermec, Lucent, and Proxim. Other default SSID’s include “tsunami”, “101″, “RoamAbout Default Network Name”, “Default SSID”, and “Compaq”.
Disabling SSID Broadcasting
Wireless Access Point (WAP) vendors have added a configuration option which lets you disable broadcasting of the SSID, but it is only able to prevent the SSID from being broadcast with Probe Request and Beacon frames.
In addition, the wireless access cards will broadcast the SSID in their Association and Reassociation frames. Because of this, the SSID cannot be considered a valid security tool.
Other names for SSID
The SSID is also referred to as the ESSID (Extended Service Set IDentifier).
