Forum Discussion

remlap1440's avatar
remlap1440
Tuning in
2 years ago

Hide SSID

Hi, I can see from some other posts that help is out there, however I contacted Virgin to try and get help and depending who I was passed to, depended on the answer I was getting. So hopefully I can get the help here.

 

I have a HUB 3 and I am wanting to hide my SSID. Not disable my wifi signal just hide it. 

When I log into the router the option is there but is grayed out so I cannot select it. To me, it looks like the router needs an update to enable this feature. 

To be clear and skip a few steps, I have watched the videos and followed the instructions that have been posted before, but I still cannot select the option. Can anyone help? Screenshot of what I am faced with.

 

  • carl_pearce's avatar
    carl_pearce
    Superstar
    2 years ago
    remlap1440 wrote:

    Hi, I can see from some other posts that help is out there, however I contacted Virgin to try and get help and depending who I was passed to, depended on the answer I was getting. So hopefully I can get the help here.

     

    I have a HUB 3 and I am wanting to hide my SSID. Not disable my wifi signal just hide it. 

    When I log into the router the option is there but is grayed out so I cannot select it. To me, it looks like the router needs an update to enable this feature. 

    To be clear and skip a few steps, I have watched the videos and followed the instructions that have been posted before, but I still cannot select the option. Can anyone help? Screenshot of what I am faced with.

     

    You probably need to disable 'Smart WiFi', by selecting 'Disable Channel Optimization', first.

  • Tudor's avatar
    Tudor
    Very Insightful Person
    2 years ago

    "I have a HUB 3 and I am wanting to hide my SSID" why? If it’s for security reasons then that’s not valid, if more of a security exposure if it’s hidden. Read up about it.

    • Mac01's avatar
      Mac01
      On our wavelength
      8 days ago

      If it’s for security reasons then that’s not valid

      Be nice. I'll defer you to this other thread as to different use-cases for hiding SSIDs: https://community.virginmedia.com/discussions/Wireless/superhub-3-0---unable-to-disable-ssid-broadcast/5257971/replies/5522439

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta
    2 years ago

    The ability to disable SSID broadcast was removed from the Hub 3 at least 2 years ago.
    Perhaps that was to bring the Hub 3 in line with Hub 4 & 5 and for compatibility with the VM Pods.

    • Mac01's avatar
      Mac01
      On our wavelength
      8 days ago

      This is not accurate. VM did not choose to grey it out - per what VM's own Forum Team members have stated. Beth_G's comment on 23-02-2023 10:22 and Ashleigh_C's comment on 20-09-2023 09:35 points toward it being a known bug within the current firmware version, and that they are working to resolve it. VM acknowledge the issue as a feature bug with security and privacy implications. 

      As noted in the response to legacy1's point here (https://community.virginmedia.com/discussions/Wireless/superhub-3-0---unable-to-disable-ssid-broadcast/5257971/replies/5522723), everyone's got different use-cases, and this feature was intended to be toggleable to ensure Pods + Hub 3.0 users and other Hub 3.0 users could configure the way they wanted - regardless of if you or others consider it a required feature or not.

    • Mac01's avatar
      Mac01
      On our wavelength
      8 days ago

      This response is not helpful. As noted in the other thread

       (https://community.virginmedia.com/discussions/Wireless/superhub-3-0---unable-to-disable-ssid-broadcast/5257971/replies/5522430)

      even if it were not a security feature as you suggest, it is a privacy feature, and a confirmed bug which makes the intended feature not available. This feature is present in every router and network management interface, and everyone's use-case is different - your response is overly reductive.

      • jpeg1's avatar
        jpeg1
        Alessandro Volta
        8 days ago

        How is hiding the SSID a privacy feature? The WiFi is still radiated, and anyone can walk past with a phone and see where it's coming from. (blocks of flats excepted). I suppose you could change the SSID from VMxxxxxxxx to BTxxxxxxxx if you were ashamed of using VM, but the location will still give you away. 

        even if it were not a security feature as you suggest, it is a privacy feature, and a confirmed bug which makes the intended feature not available

  • H_C_Langridge's avatar
    H_C_Langridge
    Tuning in
    2 years ago

    I’ve looked all over the forum for a resolution to this. I has my SSiD hidden but today I had to reset my router and I can’t hide it anymore! Did you ever get a resolution? I’ve tried everything!

    • legacy1's avatar
      legacy1
      Alessandro Volta
      2 years ago

      You now have to get your own router with 1Gb ports to do this hidden SSID.

      • Mac01's avatar
        Mac01
        On our wavelength
        8 days ago

        Hi legacy1,

        This response is not helpful. As noted in the other thread 

        (https://community.virginmedia.com/discussions/Wireless/superhub-3-0---unable-to-disable-ssid-broadcast/5257971/replies/5520823)

        Your proposal, which is to set the Hub to modem mode and use another router, introduces misconfiguration risks and is also at the expense of the end user, and comes with a requirement of basic networking knowledge. This would be a more advanced option for the typical residential user, coming at a cost to Hub 3.0 users.

        VM did not choose to grey it out - per what VM's own Forum Team members have stated. Beth_G's comment on 23-02-2023 10:22 and Ashleigh_C's comment on 20-09-2023 09:35 points toward it being a known bug within the current firmware version, and that they are working to resolve it. VM acknowledge the issue as a feature bug with security and privacy implications. 

        Every router and network management interface will have this option. No-one's gonna die if people express their want to have an intended feature be made available 🙂

  • Mac01's avatar
    Mac01
    On our wavelength
    8 days ago

    Cross-posting solution here: https://community.virginmedia.com/discussions/Wireless/superhub-3-0---unable-to-disable-ssid-broadcast/5257971/replies/5628460

  • Tudor's avatar
    Tudor
    Very Insightful Person
    8 days ago

    Hidden SSIDs are not recommended by any network specialists. People think they offer extra security, but in fact they make you security worse. Just read about it on the internet.

    • Mac01's avatar
      Mac01
      On our wavelength
      7 days ago

      offer extra security

      The OP themselves said, in this very thread, that they did not want to do this for security. Bear in mind, other people have different use-cases - it's okay to keep these in mind and not repeat your point of view - your view is no less valid.

      Just read about it on the internet.

      You've recommended this in two different comments without supplying whatever information you feel draws you to this conclusion. Further, it's not relevant for what OP seeks to achieve here.