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This is known behavior: according to the iOS 10 Security white paper [1], "iOS uses randomized Media Access Control (MAC) address when conducting Wi-Fi scans wh
by anishathalye 10y ago
This is known behavior: according to the iOS 10 Security white paper [1], "iOS uses randomized Media Access Control (MAC) address when conducting Wi-Fi scans while it isn't associated with a Wi-Fi network... Note that Wi-Fi scans which happen while trying to connect to a preferred Wi-Fi Network aren't randomized".
I haven't put much thought into it, but I wonder why they don't randomize all probe requests...
[1]: https://www.apple.com/business/docs/iOS_Security_Guide.pdf https://www.apple.com/business/docs/iOS_Security_Guide.pdf
- agf 10y agoI would assume because MAC-based whitelisting is a commonly used WiFi access control mechanism?
- eridius 10y agoAlso possibly because, if it is associated with a wifi network, then it's already sending packets with its MAC address, so there's not much point in randomizing some of the packets.
- developer2 10y agoIn addition to those who whitelist based on MAC address, some networks also assign "static IPs" via DHCP based on the MAC address.