> Whoa.. why do random routers need my SSID location history? Is that list removable by “forgetting” all the previous networks? It's how the standard currentl

> Whoa.. why do random routers need my SSID location history? Is that list removable by “forgetting” all the previous networks? It's how the standard currently works and what enables fast reconnection. IIRC, the device sends out all available SSIDs, at the router responds with the one(s) it's able to use to connect. I agree that this is backwards, and I'd rather have slightly slower WiFi reconnection in exchange for better privacy. I don't know what the OS-level behavior is if you delete all previous networks. I assume it works, but I haven't tested it. Oh, and for what it's worth, this isn't just for mobile devices. Your laptop probably does it too. In fact, OS X has an annoying habit of connecting to WiFi networks in the background even when the laptop is closed and asleep, which means it's doing this broadcasting behavior as long as the WiFi setting is turned on.