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It is interesting to see how this is now suddenly perceived as an issue with iOS 11, while Android already introduced the same behavior with 4.3 in 2013. The "

by raimue 9y ago

It is interesting to see how this is now suddenly perceived as an issue with iOS 11, while Android already introduced the same behavior with 4.3 in 2013. The "off" setting these days only indicates that the device will not associate with any WiFi network, but it keeps the radio on for location services. Without commenting whether this is actually bad for security, articles on the matter should point out that Android phones are doing the same to raise awareness. Edit: iOS enables WiFi on switching location, but re-enabling WiFi based on known locations is only a new feature of Android 8 Oreo. So for most Android users WiFi will at least not be turned back on automatically yet.

davidcbc 9y ago
That's not the iOS behavior. Toggling "off" just disconnects you from your current network, you will still connect to the next known network you come in contact with.
vmarsy 9y ago
In an article[1] about it, it clearly says you can disable it : >> This isn't going to sit well with everyone, and thankfully Google included a way to disable the feature, it's just a bit hidden. Settings -> tap on the Wi-Fi -> tap on the menu button in the lower-right hand corner and select "Advanced", Uncheck "Scanning always available" So sure, it's "a bit hidden" as the article points out, but , at least at the time the article was written, it's possible to disable this. [1] https://www.cnet.com/how-to/stop-android-4-3-from-always-scanning-for-wi-fi-networks/ https://www.cnet.com/how-to/stop-android-4-3-from-always-sca...
josteink 9y ago
> It is interesting to see how this is now suddenly perceived as an issue with iOS 11, while Android already introduced the same behavior with 4.3 in 2013. > The "off" setting these days only indicates that the device will not associate with any WiFi network, but it keeps the radio on for location services. That's not true. This is provenly and factually false. On All Android devices I've had (and I've had all version from 2.2. through to 8.0), turning wifi off causes lots of apps to nag you about turning it back on, exactly because of they wish to use location services.
- icebraining 9y ago
  In the Advanced Settings, there's an option called "Scanning always available - Let Google's location service and other apps scan for networks, even when Wi-Fi is off". As far as I know, the feature came disabled by default, and Android asked you the first time you turned off Wi-Fi if you wanted it on, so it's not really the same as iOS. On the other hand, some people have complained that upgrading to Android 6 has turned it on for them, but that might have been a bug. In any case, this is a passive scan, it didn't connect you again after you moved places or during the night.
blub 9y ago
In practice the wifi does whatever it wants. I toggle it off and then it's blue again 2 minutes later.

by raimue 9y ago

davidcbc 9y ago

That's not the iOS behavior. Toggling "off" just disconnects you from your current network, you will still connect to the next known network you come in contact with.

vmarsy 9y ago

In an article[1] about it, it clearly says you can disable it : >> This isn't going to sit well with everyone, and thankfully Google included a way to disable the feature, it's just a bit hidden. Settings -> tap on the Wi-Fi -> tap on the menu button in the lower-right hand corner and select "Advanced", Uncheck "Scanning always available" So sure, it's "a bit hidden" as the article points out, but , at least at the time the article was written, it's possible to disable this. [1] https://www.cnet.com/how-to/stop-android-4-3-from-always-scanning-for-wi-fi-networks/ https://www.cnet.com/how-to/stop-android-4-3-from-always-sca...

josteink 9y ago

> It is interesting to see how this is now suddenly perceived as an issue with iOS 11, while Android already introduced the same behavior with 4.3 in 2013. > The "off" setting these days only indicates that the device will not associate with any WiFi network, but it keeps the radio on for location services. That's not true. This is provenly and factually false. On All Android devices I've had (and I've had all version from 2.2. through to 8.0), turning wifi off causes lots of apps to nag you about turning it back on, exactly because of they wish to use location services.

icebraining 9y ago
In the Advanced Settings, there's an option called "Scanning always available - Let Google's location service and other apps scan for networks, even when Wi-Fi is off". As far as I know, the feature came disabled by default, and Android asked you the first time you turned off Wi-Fi if you wanted it on, so it's not really the same as iOS. On the other hand, some people have complained that upgrading to Android 6 has turned it on for them, but that might have been a bug. In any case, this is a passive scan, it didn't connect you again after you moved places or during the night.

blub 9y ago

In practice the wifi does whatever it wants. I toggle it off and then it's blue again 2 minutes later.