3 ms·
Does anyone know if the iPhone's MAC randomization has any effect on this?
by shimfish 9y ago
Does anyone know if the iPhone's MAC randomization has any effect on this?
- Matt3o12_ 9y agoAs far as I know, the iPhone only randomizes its MAC address after the device has been locked for two minutes and not connected to any known networks. Two things that are very unlikely to happen in a subway. One of the advantages of riding the subway is that you can use a phone and the other one is that there is rarely any cell connection (at least in my subway), so you need WiFi anyways. WiFi randomization is great if you are going to the store by car because the devices on the way there cannot track you but once you arrive there, check your texts it is game over.
- joosters 9y agoThere’s not great WiFi coverage on the underground right now, but I imagine that it will continue to improve, especially if TfL want to collect more of this data...
- matthewmacleod 9y agoReally? The vast majority of tube stations have comprehensive coverage. I can't imagine how it could get much better, beyond being available on trains themselves.
- Sephiroth87 9y agoIt's only unlikely to happen if you actively connect to the tube wifi, otherwise it works as expected, my phone will likely be locked while I get to the station, so I'll get a random MAC...
- Matt3o12_ 9y agoYour iPhone uses its real MAC address as soon as you unlock your device. Unfortunately, many networks still do security by MAC address, so a random MAC address would break WiFi on many networks.
- Sephiroth87 9y agoThe only source for this a could find was an old paper on iOS 8, while this more recent one https://arxiv.org/pdf/1703.02874.pdf https://arxiv.org/pdf/1703.02874.pdf seems to suggest the randomisation works as intended for unknown networks...
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]