[article] hidden bssid

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3576541

Your SSID Isn’t Hidden Forever
By Eric Geier
January 10, 2006

A common security practice among wireless network administrators is to disable Service Set Identifier (SSID) broadcasting on wireless access points or routers. The reason is that disabling SSID broadcasting is supposed to hide and protect their wireless network. Even if an individual knows there is a wireless network at a certain location, this person must know the SSID to establish a connection with the network.

Therefore, hiding the SSID by disabling SSID broadcasting helps to prevent others from connecting to the network. Don’t let this give you a false sense of security, however. People with the right equipment can easily retrieve the SSID of the network.