How to hide a PTCL Wi-Fi Network

Sometimes, you may notice that your internet speeds are slower than expected. On checking your Wi-Fi network, you notice an unauthorized device(s) connected to it. In this article, we show you how to hide your PTCL Wi-Fi network from intruders.

A Wi-Fi network is an important device on a network as it not only enables us to connect to the internet, it also connects devices with each other. In Pakistan, PTCL or Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd. is the leading telecommunication company providing several services including internet services.

To hide a PTCL Wi-Fi network, go to the PTCL router settings page on your browser and hide the access point.

Hiding the PTCL Wi-Fi network

When attempting to hack into a Wi-Fi network, the network name is the first point of access for a hacker. Hiding your PTCL Wi-Fi network signals limits anyone from accessing and attempting to connect to your Wi-Fi network when in range. A PTCL Wi-Fi router like all routers has a settings panel that you can use to change the settings and control your network. Before you continue, make sure that you have your network’s name and password as you will need it afterward to connect any device to the Wi-Fi network after resetting the router.

To access this control panel, on your PC or smartphone, launch a browser and type in 192.168.1.1 as it is, and hit enter to visit the site. This launches the PTCL Broadband admin panel. On the next screen, enter the username and password to proceed. If you haven’t changed these details, then use the default PTCL username (User Name) and password (Admin) click on ‘Log In’ to login. On the left-hand side, navigate to ‘Wireless’ and click it. Under Wireless, select ‘Basic’ and on the left-hand side of the screen, check the ‘Hide Access Point’ checkbox.

You’ve now successfully hidden your PTCL Wi-Fi network. Restart your router by unplugging it from the power source and wait for a few seconds before plugging it back in. Now, connect your devices to this network and you should be able to access the internet.

How to connect a device to a hidden network

1. Android

Now that your Wi-Fi network is hidden, you will need to connect your devices again. This time, you won’t be able to just go to your available Wi-Fi networks and enter the password and connect, you will need to enter both the network name and password. Open Settings on your Android device and select ‘Wi-Fi’, under Wi-Fi, tap on ‘Add network’. On the next screen, enter your Wi-Fi network name and click on ‘Save’ to proceed. If you’ve enabled WPA security on your Wi-Fi network, then select the appropriate setting from the dropdown menu under ‘Security’, enter the password and click Save. Your Android phone should now be connected to the Wi-Fi network.

1. iPhone

On iOS, open Settings and select ‘Wi-Fi’ then ensure it’s turned on. Under Wi-Fi, tap on Other and enter your hidden network credentials then under Security, select your network’s security type if necessary and go back to the previous screen. Enter the Wi-Fi network’s password and tap on ‘Join’. TO know if you successfully joined the network, you should see a blue tick next to the network’s name and the Wi-Fi icon on your display.

1. Windows PC

There are various methods to connect a Windows PC to a hidden network. There are also several Windows versions and the Control Panel is available on all of them. Navigate to the Start menu and type in ‘Control panel’. Click on the control panel app from the results to launch it. On the control panel screen, select ‘Network & Internet’ and then click on ‘Network and Sharing Center’. Under ‘Change your network settings’, click on the ‘Set up a new connection or network’ link to proceed. This launches the wizard which guides along the way. From the list on the dialogue window that pops up, select ‘Manually connect to a wireless network’ and then click on Next to continue. On the following screen, enter the network’s name, choose a security type if the network has one, and type in the Wi-Fi network’s password. Make sure to check the ‘Start this connection automatically’ box and click on the Next button to continue. Once the connection is successful, Windows 10 will notify you.

A Summary table

Does hiding my PTCL Wi-Fi network keep my network safe from hackers?

Hiding your PTCL Wi-Fi network doesn’t secure your network since anyone with your Wi-Fi credentials can connect to the network. It however minimizes exposure to people without the network’s details when they scan for available networks.

What’s the difference between WEP and WPA/WPA2?

Both WEP and WPA/WPA2 are Wi-Fi security protocols used around the world. WEP was the first to be introduced followed by WPA and WPA2. The last two were introduced to counter the security threats posed on WEP.