5 ms·

Mac address randomization is a must if your wifi is on in public (you don't even need to connect anywhere to be fingerprinted and tracked). Also use cookie self

Mac address randomization is a must if your wifi is on in public (you don't even need to connect anywhere to be fingerprinted and tracked). Also use cookie self-destruct plugins for your browser.

defo_nonconvex 9y ago
Possible on Android and without root?
- TACIXAT 9y ago
  As of iOS 8 and Android 5.0 the operating systems should do it automatically.
  - michaelt 9y ago
    researchers found that "the overwhelming majority of Android devices are not implementing the available randomization capabilities built into the Android OS," which makes such Android devices trivial to track. [...] Apple, meanwhile, introduced MAC address randomization in iOS 8, only to break it in iOS 10. [...] its network probe broadcasts to include a distinct Information Element (IE), data added to Wi-Fi management frames to extend the Wi-Fi protocol. https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/03/10/mac_address_randomization/ https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/03/10/mac_address_randomi...
- distances 9y ago
  For avoiding wifi tracking I suggest Smarter Wifi Manager [0]. It's great for automatically keeping wifi off when not at home/work. [0] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.kismetwireless.android.smarterwifimanager https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.kismetwire...
myopicgoat 9y ago
MAC address randomisation has been proven to be essentially useless: https://arxiv.org/abs/1703.02874v1 https://arxiv.org/abs/1703.02874v1
- goblins 9y ago
  Having read just the abstract is seems that current implementations of Mac address randomisation is essentially useless rather the Mac address randomisation itself. Hopefully in the future the implementation will improve. Until then WiFi is off.
  - y4mi 9y ago
    Youre still being tracked by your phone service provider though.
    - goblins 9y ago
      Only as far as it goes. Tracking isn't as fine grained. Service providers main concern is the service. Can you be tracked this way? Yes, but not as easily as this is talking about
- stordoff 9y ago
  Does anyone know how the MAC randomisation in Windows 10 devices stacks up? I'd assume it's better than a fixed MAC, but a quick Google search doesn't give much info. about how easily it can be sidestepped.
- tinus_hn 9y ago
  Preventing every possible form of tracking is so difficult it’s almost a lost cause. Preventing forms of tracking that are actually in use is much easier.
- Spivak 9y ago
  The goal isn't to defeat every possible form of tracking, it's to make it more difficult than it's worth to track you. Do you think this system even bothers to take into account the tiny number of people who turn MAC randomization on? I don't think my door lock is going to protect me against a professional locksmith, having one is nonetheless still useful.

Mac address randomization is a must if your wifi is on in public (you don't even need to connect anywhere to be fingerprinted and tracked). Also use cookie self-destruct plugins for your browser.

defo_nonconvex 9y ago

Possible on Android and without root?

TACIXAT 9y ago
As of iOS 8 and Android 5.0 the operating systems should do it automatically.
- michaelt 9y ago
  researchers found that "the overwhelming majority of Android devices are not implementing the available randomization capabilities built into the Android OS," which makes such Android devices trivial to track. [...] Apple, meanwhile, introduced MAC address randomization in iOS 8, only to break it in iOS 10. [...] its network probe broadcasts to include a distinct Information Element (IE), data added to Wi-Fi management frames to extend the Wi-Fi protocol. https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/03/10/mac_address_randomization/ https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/03/10/mac_address_randomi...
distances 9y ago
For avoiding wifi tracking I suggest Smarter Wifi Manager [0]. It's great for automatically keeping wifi off when not at home/work. [0] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.kismetwireless.android.smarterwifimanager https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.kismetwire...

myopicgoat 9y ago

MAC address randomisation has been proven to be essentially useless: https://arxiv.org/abs/1703.02874v1 https://arxiv.org/abs/1703.02874v1

goblins 9y ago
Having read just the abstract is seems that current implementations of Mac address randomisation is essentially useless rather the Mac address randomisation itself. Hopefully in the future the implementation will improve. Until then WiFi is off.
- y4mi 9y ago
  Youre still being tracked by your phone service provider though.
  - goblins 9y ago
    Only as far as it goes. Tracking isn't as fine grained. Service providers main concern is the service. Can you be tracked this way? Yes, but not as easily as this is talking about
stordoff 9y ago
Does anyone know how the MAC randomisation in Windows 10 devices stacks up? I'd assume it's better than a fixed MAC, but a quick Google search doesn't give much info. about how easily it can be sidestepped.
tinus_hn 9y ago
Preventing every possible form of tracking is so difficult it’s almost a lost cause. Preventing forms of tracking that are actually in use is much easier.
Spivak 9y ago
The goal isn't to defeat every possible form of tracking, it's to make it more difficult than it's worth to track you. Do you think this system even bothers to take into account the tiny number of people who turn MAC randomization on? I don't think my door lock is going to protect me against a professional locksmith, having one is nonetheless still useful.