About Computer Networking: Things to Know About Wireless Data

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Computer Networking Computer Networking Fundamentals Get Connected Use and Upgrade From Bradley Mitchell, your Guide to Computer Networking Google has now stopped collecting Wi-Fi network data from its cars in response to the recent objections to Street View Wi-Fi scanning raised in Germany and elsewhere. Odds are this change doesn't affect you at all. Still, its good to see so many people taking an active interest in the technical details and ramifications. What Is An SSID? An SSID is the public name of a wireless network. All devices connected to a local wireless network, such as a router and its PC clients, must employ the same network name in order to communicate with each other. SSIDs are the primary piece of data scanners like Street View collect in order to identify unique networks. There is no harm in sharing your SSID itself; in fact, some of our readers have suggested great names for wireless home networks. DISCUSS: Can You Hide a MAC Address? Another piece of information routinely collected by many Wi-Fi scanners including Street View is the MAC address. These lesser-known numbers can be used to physically identify a computer, at least in theory. But most people don't worry about their MAC address. Is it technically possible to hide a MAC address even if you wanted to? We're currently discussing this topic on our message board. Network Data Packets and Payloads You may notice recent press articles about Google Street View keep mentioning the word "payload." In a nutshell, payloads are data embedded inside wireless packet transmissions that are chunks of actual messages you send and receive, such as the text of documents, contents of emails, or your credit card numbers. What Is a Network Sniffer? A sniffer is a computer tool that captures network data in the form of low-level packets. Sniffers can be used for helpful network troubleshooting or for malicious purposes. Street View was effectively working as a sniffer although it was intended to simply scan for the presence of networks and not probe deeper inside the packets. Wireless / Networking Ads Computer Networking Wireless Networking Wireless Seminar Wireless Security Wireless Connection Featured Articles 10 Tips for Wireless Network Security Hiding IP Addresses What Is SNMP? Wireless/Networking Message Board WAN - Wide Area Networks What Is an IP Address Conflict?   More from About.com Disney Trip Planner Everything you need to plan the perfect Disney vacation -- from when to go and what to do, to saving money and picking a hotel. More > Join About.com's User Panel! Share your opinions and help us make About.com more relevant, informative and enjoyable to use. More> This newsletter is written by: Bradley Mitchell Computer Networking Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Computer Networking newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Must Reads Wireless Router Networking IP Addresses + Internet Networks Connecting Two Computers Home Network Diagrams Home Network Setup Advisor Tool Advertisement