[Mac]: Disable SSID Broadcast for Airport Express, Airport Extreme, and Time Capsule Wireless Routers

Disable SSID Broadcast for Airport Express, Airport Extreme, and Time Capsule Wireless Routers

When SSID broadcast is disabled for your wireless router, your wireless network is pretty much in stealth mode. Meaning, that your wireless network isn’t visible to computer’s that have wireless cards or wireless adapters. Not only is this a good way to keep your wireless network protected, but also a good way to prevent hacking, leeching, and protect your privacy.

Still not quite sure what SSID broadcast disable is? Basically, a wireless router displays the wireless network name so that devices can connect to it, such as laptops, smart phones, etc.

If you have a wireless router in your home, you may have noticed that you need to select the name of your network and type in your network password to be able to connect using wireless internet. You can hide this network name so that it doesn’t show up as an available network when other computers search for wireless connections.

The process of disabling SSID broadcast involves configuring settings from your router control page. Thus, each router manufacturer is a bit different. Here are some help pages for you to check out, that should cover the majority of routers:

• Disable SSID Broadcast for Linksys Routers
• Disable SSID Broadcast for Cisco
• Disable SSID Broadcast for DLink, Alternative Resource
• Disable SSID Broadcast for Netgear

For screenshots and additional details, see our previous post on disabling SSID broadcast on non-Apple routers.

For Apple users and PC users who have an Apple Airport Express, Airport Extreme, or Time Capsule, you can disable SSID broadcast directly within Mac OS X. Here is the general process:

1. Navigate the path Finder > Applications > Utilities. Double click on the Airport Utility icon.
2. Click Continue on the first screen to verify that Airport Utility detected your Airport or Time Capsule.
3. Right-click on the large icon of your Time Capsule, Airport Express, or Airport Express, and select Manual Setup from the drop down menu.
4. Assure that the AirPort icon towards the top of the window is selected and click the Wireless tab.
5. Click the Wireless Network Options button.
6. Put a checkmark in the box labeled Create a closed network and click the Donebutton.
7. Click the Update button to save changes.
8. Your Time Capsule/Airport Express/Airport Extreme should reset. When it powers back up, you will have a closed connection.

That’s all there is to it. Now, to connect to this wireless network, you will need to know the network nameand password.