N95 8GB WLAN use

yipyipboo · 29 Jan 2008 at 21:38

i have managed to setup my N95 to access the interweb via my wireless router at home but the phone can only see the network when the SSID broadcast is enabled on the router.

As a rule I have it disabled which hasn't been a problem for my wii and other pc; does something need setting in the phone somewhere for it to remember :confused:

cheers for any help

Gaygle · 29 Jan 2008 at 22:06

on mine if you serach for a network that doesn't broadcast the SSID, it comes up as "Hidden Network"...

then you have to put in the SSID and the WEP/WPA key

yipyipboo · 29 Jan 2008 at 22:11

mmmm i did see it display hidden network when i first tried but now it just displays no network found.

LeperousDust · 30 Jan 2008 at 00:12

Don't bother hiding your SSID, it serves no purpose at all, and obviously makes the n95 all over, there really isn't any gain. If you're trying to be hella security conscious, much better turning on mac filtering.

smids · 30 Jan 2008 at 02:11

LeperousDust said:
Don't bother hiding your SSID, it serves no purpose at all, and obviously makes the n95 all over, there really isn't any gain. If you're trying to be hella security conscious, much better turning on mac filtering.

That won't do anything either. WPA with a decent non-dictionary passcode is the only way to properly secure yourself. Hiding SSID and MAC filtering can be bypassed in a matter of seconds.

yipyipboo · 30 Jan 2008 at 07:48

I'll just leave it on then, I use WPA with a non-dictionary password anyway. cheers

Sinopa · 30 Jan 2008 at 08:53

smids said:
MAC filtering can be bypassed in a matter of seconds.

Could you provide some links so that I may read about this. Thanks.

Rhys · 30 Jan 2008 at 09:45

Sinopa said:
Could you provide some links so that I may read about this. Thanks.

Just spoof a MAC address to connect to a MAC filtered wifi point. Use google.

My N95 8gb connects to any wifi point fine. If it is one I have hidden the SSID then you just need to add it manually in the Connections settings first.

yipyipboo · 30 Jan 2008 at 10:06

I can see my network in the Access point list along with '3' and '3MMS', the network status is set to hidden which is what I assumed I needed to do. (I must admit to not having read the manual :/).

LeperousDust · 30 Jan 2008 at 11:54

smids said:
That won't do anything either. WPA with a decent non-dictionary passcode is the only way to properly secure yourself. Hiding SSID and MAC filtering can be bypassed in a matter of seconds.

Haha I took that for granted sorry... MAC filtering can be very effective with WPA2 enabled, but its a PITA when friends come over and i have to add them to the network, or when you buy some new hardware (wii, DS, phone etc...)

Sinopa · 30 Jan 2008 at 16:21

Rhys said:
Just spoof a MAC address to connect to a MAC filtered wifi point. Use google.

I know about MAC address spoofing but don't you have to know the address to spoof? With no physical access to the network you want to join is it possible to find out the MAC address to spoof? Assuming that the network has never been exposed in an unsecured manner in the past.

Sorry this is off topic in this thread. If I have any other questions I will post in the Networks & Internet Connectivity section.

Rhys · 30 Jan 2008 at 16:48

Sinopa said:
I know about MAC address spoofing but don't you have to know the address to spoof? With no physical access to the network you want to join is it possible to find out the MAC address to spoof? Assuming that the network has never been exposed in an unsecured manner in the past.

Sorry this is off topic in this thread. If I have any other questions I will post in the Networks & Internet Connectivity section.

You can get apps that tell you what MAC addresses are connected to a AP. MUAHAHAHAH!

smids · 30 Jan 2008 at 18:25

LeperousDust said:
Haha I took that for granted sorry... MAC filtering can be very effective with WPA2 enabled, but its a PITA when friends come over and i have to add them to the network, or when you buy some new hardware (wii, DS, phone etc...)

Aaah, that's different - then again, the WPA2 is what is protecting you - if they could crack that, your MAC would be useless anyway.

I have WPA2 and because I know it hasn't been cracked yet, except with a brute force attack, I cannot be breached so I go with the easy solution of no MAC filters or SSID hiding. It makes it easier to manage the network (8 computers - would a PITA otherwise).

Durzel · 30 Jan 2008 at 20:10

I had the same problem with my work WLAN, hidden SSID meant I couldn't use it on my N95 8GB even though I had set all the details properly. I think it's router-dependant.

LeperousDust · 30 Jan 2008 at 23:21

smids said:
Aaah, that's different - then again, the WPA2 is what is protecting you - if they could crack that, your MAC would be useless anyway.

I have WPA2 and because I know it hasn't been cracked yet, except with a brute force attack, I cannot be breached so I go with the easy solution of no MAC filters or SSID hiding. It makes it easier to manage the network (8 computers - would a PITA otherwise).

No its harder to brute or crack a network when the router just drops your packets because you don't have the right mac address (changing your mac address is easy, but how do you know what to use?). It is another layer of protection, a probable unneeded one which is why i called it anal.