When your Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1
or Service Pack 2 (SP1
or SP2)-based Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) client
computer is in the proximity of two wireless access points, and one of the
access points is broadcasting its Service Set Identifier (SSID) but the other
is not, your computer always connects to the access point that is broadcasting
its SSID. This occurs regardless of the preference order of the networks that
are configured on the
Preferred Networks list.
Additionally, when your computer is connected to an access point that
is not broadcasting its SSID, and another access point that is broadcasting its
SSID is enabled nearby, your computer automatically connects to the access
point that is broadcasting its SSID.
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Wireless
Zero Config Service (WZC) always tries to connect to a broadcasting
Access Point that is listed in the Preferred Networks list first.
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This
behavior is by design.
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The Windows XP WZC service dynamically selects the wireless
network to which your computer connects based either on your preferences or on
your default settings. This includes automatically selecting and connecting to
a more preferred wireless network when it becomes available. If no preferred
wireless network is found nearby, the WZC service configures the wireless
adapter so that there is no accidental connection until the wireless client is
in range of a preferred network. For more information about the WZC service,
visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Disabling SSID broadcasts is not a sufficiently strong method for securing a wireless network.
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