"Hidden Network" Coming From My Router

I recently moved service to my new house. Where I was living previously, I was hardwired into my router via ethernet, so I never used wifi. I am now using wifi until I can get some new cable run and I noticed a 3rd wifi network coming from my router. I confirmed it is coming from it because I powered it off and it disappeared. It also has the same signal strength as my 2.4ghz and 5ghz connections. Is this some piggybacked hotspot like comcast does? Or is something else going on here? I enabled the guest wifi to see if it was related to that, and I can confirm it is not, I saw a separate guest wifi pop up.

Here is a screenshot: http://imgur.com/a/0ZjQy

If this is a piggybacked hotspot, how do I turn it off?

Thank you

Accepted answers

JustinG1

I can confirm on my test G1100 router with stock settings, the hidden SSID is present too. Turning off guest wireless does nothing. Turning off wireless all together, however, does stop the broadcast of the hidden SSID.

If I had to guess, I would assume that Verizon is using it to prepare for some future plans, specifically in the IOT (Internet of Things) field. Heres an interesting article regarding some information found in FCC Documents about the G1100 router and its features for IOT. http://www.lightreading.com/cable-video/cable-modem-cmts/verizon-drops-its-quantum-router-hints-at-iot/d/d-id/711830

I can confirm that it is not a public hotspot, but as for what the purpose of the hidden SSID is unknown and the only entity who could comment on its purpose would be Verizon themselvs.

P.S. - To check if your router is broadcasting the hidden SSID as well, you should check out the app WiFI Analyzer, since most computers don't even display hidden SSIDs (for android only) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer&hl=en

All comments

jonjones1

@thomthetank wrote:
I recently moved service to my new house. Where I was living previously, I was hardwired into my router via ethernet, so I never used wifi. I am now using wifi until I can get some new cable run and I noticed a 3rd wifi network coming from my router. I confirmed it is coming from it because I powered it off and it disappeared. It also has the same signal strength as my 2.4ghz and 5ghz connections. Is this some piggybacked hotspot like comcast does? Or is something else going on here? I enabled the guest wifi to see if it was related to that, and I can confirm it is not, I saw a separate guest wifi pop up.
Here is a screenshot: http://imgur.com/a/0ZjQy
If this is a piggybacked hotspot, how do I turn it off?
Thank you

How this network is showing as a "hidden" SSID is strange.

did you reset the router to factory specs? There is a reset button on the router so if you just hold the notch for 10 to 20 seconds then go and set it up as the day you first used it.

remember the password and SSID may revert to first use.

after it is cleared out, see if that "Hidden" SSID is still showing. To say the SSID broadcast is showing is strange in its self.

bluegauges

I have the same issue and thus , the same question.

jonjones1

@bluegauges wrote:
I have the same issue and thus , the same question.

Which would be the same solution I previously gave.

the question being is a hidden SSID would not be seen. Hence the "hidden" aspect.

it could be a seen third or fourth SSID regulated to the routers guest networks.

turn guest networks off and see if they disappear.

the surest way to not have mysterious networks appear is to reset the router.

then set it back up. Most routers can be set as secure in the settings. Are there unsecured network SSID that is not from you?

in any case, just do what I suggested in my previous reply.

JustinG1

I can confirm that it is not a public hotspot, but as for what the purpose of the hidden SSID is unknown and the only entity who could comment on its purpose would be Verizon themselvs.

jonjones1

@JustinG wrote:
I can confirm on my test G1100 router with stock settings, the hidden SSID is present too. Turning off guest wireless does nothing. Turning off wireless all together, however, does stop the broadcast of the hidden SSID.
If I had to guess, I would assume that Verizon is using it to prepare for some future plans, specifically in the IOT (Internet of Things) field. Heres an interesting article regarding some information found in FCC Documents about the G1100 router and its features for IOT. http://www.lightreading.com/cable-video/cable-modem-cmts/verizon-drops-its-quantum-router-hints-at-iot/d/d-id/711830
I can confirm that it is not a public hotspot, but as for what the purpose of the hidden SSID is unknown and the only entity who could comment on its purpose would be Verizon themselvs.
P.S. - To check if your router is broadcasting the hidden SSID as well, you should check out the app WiFI Analyzer, since most computers don't even display hidden SSIDs (for android only) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer&hl=en

Actually this article will explain it and tell you how to get rid of it. Very simple process

http://superuser.com/questions/842033/i-keep-seeing-an-ssid-called-hidden-network-everywhere-why-is-this

Scroll half way down to read this post.

(QUOTE)

New routers from Verizon and Xfinity have a "Hidden Network" as part of a new initiative to boost speeds without installing actual infrastructure. It's a new way to extend signal to hard to reach places like the rural midwest where 1 tower is enough to supply a whole zip code by bouncing signal off routers in the neighborhood. To get rid of this "HIdden Network" you have to log into your Verizon, or Comcast account and Opt Out. You can do so in your account or call customer service. Someone from technical support will access your router, stop the Hidden Network, and you should see a small boost of 30mb in performance from your router.

(END QUOTE)

JustinG1

Thank you for that information, I would have never known about that. Very interesting initiative.

jonjones1

@JustinG wrote:
Thank you for that information, I would have never known about that. Very interesting initiative.

Ha ha I never see any hidden networks. I often times check my logs to see how many attacks happen over night or for the week. Since I am pretty well bottled up I may see an attack on very rare occasions. As you are aware the best defense is to not hide your SSID but to place passwords so many letters/symbols that it would take a life time and a cray computer to crack it.

CRobGauth

Has anyone found this opt out for Verizon?

When I looked at thread, it just pointed to articles that mentioned Comcast.

jonjones1

@CRobGauth wrote:
Has anyone found this opt out for Verizon?
When I looked at thread, it just pointed to articles that mentioned Comcast.

It also mentioned that you may "have to call Verizon" to have them do it also.

i noticed the Comcast references since the cable broadband were thinking of using their supplied routers as wifi hotspots. Just like Time Warner (Charter now) was going to do and were forced to abandon.

Having verizon do this would not surprise me and many others. You should not have to opt out for something you did not ask for or ever agree to.

mikejeep47

I have the same issue. It's clearly coming from my G1100 as the MAC is only off by one character, the signal strength is identical, and it goes away when I shut down my router. Has anyone had any luck contacting Verizon to shut off the mystery SSID? I have found a few other threads about this issue..

A dslreports poster indicates it was for "wireless IPCs", a wireless STB depolyment that was supposedly scrapped:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r30846733-Networking-Router-G1100-broadcasting-a-duplicate-5Ghz-SSID

Another Verizon customer noticed this issue way back in January 2015:

https://forums.verizon.com/t5/Fios-Internet/Verizon-G1100-Quantum-Gateway-router-spurious-5Ghz-output/td-p/774818

I'm having some wireless intereference issues so I'd love to be able to disable this mystery network.

mikejeep47

I contacted Verizon Support today; over the course of 2.5 hours, I was transferred to 5(!) different support agents, none of whom could explain what this network is. Two of them told me not to worry about it and just ignore it. A factory reset was completed and nothing changed. Now they are sending me a new router. Will update on how that goes..

mikejeep47

Received the new G1100 router, and as soon as I plugged it in, it began broadcasting the normal 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz SSIDs, as well as another 5 GHz network with a hidden SSID with a similar MAC. I reached out to Verizon via the DSLReports forum and got a very straightforward rep who said it was odd and that he didn't know what was causing it, but he would escalate the ticket and I'd hear back if anyone had an answer. Will update if I hear back.

jonjones1

@mikejeep47 wrote:
Received the new G1100 router, and as soon as I plugged it in, it began broadcasting the normal 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz SSIDs, as well as another 5 GHz network with a hidden SSID with a similar MAC. I reached out to Verizon via the DSLReports forum and got a very straightforward rep who said it was odd and that he didn't know what was causing it, but he would escalate the ticket and I'd hear back if anyone had an answer. Will update if I hear back.

I think if you check further you would have found others have stated it was a test by fios to use the routers as hotspots. It was abandoned because when cable tried it there was a backlash and it to was abandoned.

it is nothing to get excited about.

if you prefer not to see that ghost network just use your own customer supplied router. They work much better anyway.

Good Luck

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