A city library IT lead asks what a BSSID uniquely identifies compared with an SSID name users see. What should the assessor explain?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
Think of the SSID as the café name on the window and the BSSID as the unique register ID behind the counter. Patrons see one friendly name; survey tools still need the radio’s own address so they know which AP they’re looking at.
Full Explanation
In 802.11, the SSID is the network name presented to users and may be advertised by many access points in an ESS. The BSSID identifies a particular BSS and is normally the MAC address of that AP’s radio interface. Assessors use BSSIDs to distinguish collocated APs that share a friendly SSID, which matters for targeting captures and documenting scope.