Great tech, but am I the only one who noticed "administrated"?
iOS 8 randomises the MAC address while scanning for WiFi networks
141–150 of 264 posts
Re: iOS 8 randomises the MAC address while scanning for WiFi networks
#142Many Bluetooth LE devices (including iOS 7) do something similar -- otherwise you'd be able to track people by all of their BT LE devices which are constantly advertising their existence. They cycle their advertised MAC addresses every 15 minutes or so (and some provide a "random resolvable address" which you can use to find out the physical BT MAC address after pairing for easier reconnection). From my office in dow…
Yeah, our road authority uses anonomised Bluetooth tracking to calculate performance measures for particular routes (Automated numberplate recognition cameras are also used sometimes).
With Bluetooth, not just phones, but a lot of car stereos advertise their MACs.
Re: iOS 8 randomises the MAC address while scanning for WiFi networks
#143Earlier quoted context omitted.
The MAC address is stable once a device is authenticated (connected) to the network. With the trend of providing 'free' wifi access within stores, making sure that users connect to that network is enough to continue tracking them.
> The MAC address is stable once a device is authenticated (connected) to the network. That is necessary to keep the gateway from having to issue a thousand ARP requests (one for every packet you send from a different MAC), but there is no reason why the MAC chosen to connect to the network couldn't change every time you disconnect and reconnect. That would at least prevent you from being tracked between visits to th…
MAC collisions?
Re: iOS 8 randomises the MAC address while scanning for WiFi networks
#144Earlier quoted context omitted.
The MAC address is stable once a device is authenticated (connected) to the network. With the trend of providing 'free' wifi access within stores, making sure that users connect to that network is enough to continue tracking them.
I wonder if this explains why a lot of these 'free' Wifi networks let you connect with no issues then ask you to login or whatever when you try to do anything. I figured it was probably just to offer a better login screen (than the Wifi settings on whatever device) but stabilising devices for tracking would make sense too if others do this.
Or, it's to force you to read and accept terms and conditions, to force you to type in your email, to force you to type in a one time use code to connect, to force you to pay money to connect, ...
Re: iOS 8 randomises the MAC address while scanning for WiFi networks
#145Earlier quoted context omitted.
There's a flip side to this. Being less trackable means that any passive advertising or active marketing you do see is less tailored to your situation and needs. When I walk around I see many billboards advertising products for which I have no use (e.g. female hair care products). If tracking technology could replace those with things I actually might buy (even if male hair care products) then I would be a touch happ…
Do you know what companies never do? They never ask. I see dating ads, cars advertisements, feminine healthcare products, insurance ads, etc. What do I want to see? Travel accessories, computers, hardware, games, tech gadgets, etc. I never see these ads. Why doesn't Google say, hey, you're going to see Adsense all over the internet, advertisements before videos on YouTube, etc. Would you like to select a few categori…
You can set your interests for ads (and see what Google thinks you like) here:
https://www.google.com/settings/u/0/ads
Re: iOS 8 randomises the MAC address while scanning for WiFi networks
#146Princeton's guest network allows users to join for up to 3 days a month. I guess this change will nullify that restriction. :)
Re: iOS 8 randomises the MAC address while scanning for WiFi networks
#147Earlier quoted context omitted.
Google probably also sees themselves as user-centered by providing advanced services for free.
I think that's the "easy way out," in a way. Sure, it's not easy to provide the services for free, but it also doesn't particularly excuse them. Like Netflix vs. YouTube. Netflix fights for your ability to stream HD videos comfortably because you pay for the service. YouTube crams a perfectly-buffered, crisp HD ad down your throat before leaving you with a video that might stutter or fail to load even at 480p. Sure,…
The ads are all in the edge caches and the videos you want to watch might not be.
Re: iOS 8 randomises the MAC address while scanning for WiFi networks
#148This is interesting. If _I_ did this while trying to find an open network, I'd probably be described by the FBI man who tries to charge me with unauthorized network access as using countermeasures learned from al Qaeda's IT guys. If Apple does it on behalf of users though I'm sure it would be fine.
And yes, I've been involved in a criminal proceeding where the government tried to claim that changing a wifi MAC was evidence of malice.
Re: iOS 8 randomises the MAC address while scanning for WiFi networks
#149Couldn't they just have my device spoof the first smartphone MAC that I see inside the store? That would be a lot more fun.
Re: iOS 8 randomises the MAC address while scanning for WiFi networks
#150Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think on the general principle of privacy. But also, the idea that the more trackable you are, the more easily manipulated you are by marketers and advertisers. Free markets work better the more consumers are rational. Giving marketers deep psychological and behavioral insight increasingly enables them to circumvent rationality and "hack" consumers in various ways.
There's a flip side to this. Being less trackable means that any passive advertising or active marketing you do see is less tailored to your situation and needs. When I walk around I see many billboards advertising products for which I have no use (e.g. female hair care products). If tracking technology could replace those with things I actually might buy (even if male hair care products) then I would be a touch happ…
Is it not easier to tune ads out if they're not targeted? If I want to buy something, I'll go look for it.