Do I Need to Name My Wireless Network?
If you own a laptop or more than one computer, there will probably come a time when you will need to set up a wireless network. Wireless networks make it easy to connect many computers in various locations in your home to your internet connection and/or network. Of course, the biggest benefit is no wires!
In order to set up a wireless network for home use, you will need to buy a router with the ability to broadcast a wireless signal. You will also need to make sure your computers are able to receive wireless signals, so you will be able to connect to the wireless network you create. Most newer laptops will have this capability already. However, in some cases, a wireless card or some sort of adapter will be necessary.
By setting up your new router and starting the installation software, you will encounter many steps and be asked to answer several questions. When you reach the portion that addresses your wireless network (also called SSID), one of the first questions will be something like, “What would you like to name your wireless network?” There will be a space for the name of your network, and there may be a default name. Please do not click Next!
It is best to think of the security of your computer and wireless network in terms of layers, and the best security has many layers between you and anything that can be harmful to your computer and network. Default names for wireless networks are easy to guess, because they are usually the name of the company that makes the router (e.g., Linksys, Netgear, etc.). By changing the name of your wireless network, you are adding one more layer of security to your network.
The name you select does not necessarily need to be extremely complicated like a password should be, but it certainly should not be easy to guess or very common. SafeComputingAdvisor.com recommends that you do select the name like you would select a secure password, but it should not be your password! The reason for a more complicated network name will be explained in the next article.