The content of this topic has been archived on 3 Apr 2018. There are no obvious gaps in this topic, but there may still be some posts missing at the end.
I was reading on the kismet webpage:
Kismet identifies networks by passively collecting packets and detecting
standard named networks, detecting (and given time, decloaking) hidden
networks, and inferring the presence of non-beaconing networks via data
traffic.
What is a non-beaconing network?
In layman's terms, the AP is not advertising its presence by broadcasting management packets containing the network name (ESSID) and other information. Also known as 'cloaked', or 'hidden'.
The ESSID can still be derived from data packets with no issue (just at a different offset), but if there is no activity on the network it cannot be detected by packets. All this serves to do is prevent devices without prior knowledge of the ESSID from automatically joining the network; it adds no more security than adding a blank cover-sheet to a document does.
(Last edited by aoz.syn on 9 May 2008, 18:31)
Ok. Thank you.
The discussion might have continued from here.