while MAC address randomization is intended to provide additional "anonymity" when using Public WiFi, I still see the same "randomized" MAC address being used on each WiFi network (even when moving through different AP). Why does it happens? is this the planned behavior? if so, how it is supposed to increase "anonymity"? Thanks!
iPhone X
Digging deeper into the implementation, the MAC address for a specific network that you have connected to does not change. This allows MAC filtering to work on that network once the MAC address is added to the network whitelist. If it changed randomly or periodically then MAC filter would be useless. This has actually caused problems with “home” networks that implement MAC filtering, and it’s why you need to turn off Private Address on a home network, or add the spoof address to the router’s whitelist. As a lot of users don’t know how to do the later, I’ve been advising the former.
The purpose of this feature is to prevent tracking the device from one network to another, not to prevent a given network from recognizing you when you return to it.
In Settings, Wifi, on the (i) to the right of the SSID is Private Address on or off for each one?
Thanks. The observed behavior is that iPhone @iOS14 will use same private MAC address for the same WiDi SSID. Back to my original point, this is very weird, due it provide no security/privacy enhancement as Network Operators will perfectly know on which AP a user logs over the time.
This behavior:
https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2020/10676/?time=1348
Seems more reasonable, but not currently implemented.
it uses the Private MAC everytime it connects. What I found strange is that it uses the *same* Private MAC for each WiFi Network, so I cannot understand what improvement on security it provides, as the WiFi network operator can perfectly track you through the Private MAC address.
it does not works this way. I have already tested. It keep using the same Private MAC all the time.
Thanks, but question is about behavior of the feature: is the Private MAC "preserved" for each different WiFi Network (SSID) or it varies over the time? Apple provides a bit ambiguous answers:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211227
https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2020/10676/?time=1348
OK Thanks. Your explanation makes a lot of sense, definitively it would be unmanageable situation at home when MAC filtering is enabled. Just as feedback, having this feature enabled just between different networks, makes little sense as most of the tracking is performed by network operators within the same network_SSID. Not sure if it was worthy the effort of implement/support. Thanks again and Regards
Hmmm I will have to look at my own router. And look at auto-join and other settings. It's too new to have much knowledge base.
OK Thanks
BTW yes you are right, your cited video suggests it regenerates every 24 hours, but I am not sure that is correct.
Yes you are right. I will ask around.
Thank you Sir
This knowledge base article...which you already cited...
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211227
explains that it will assign a private address to that network, and yes it it the same each time.
If you want it to use another MAC address on that router next time it says you have to Reset Network Settings on the iPhone which can cause additional work (wallet? somewhere it messes up) and it will delete all your network passwords too.
Assuming it uses another MAC address on another router I guess they are saying that will stop tracking. I only have access to one router so I cannot confirm.
HTH
It should change each time you reconnect unless Private Address is off for that network in which case the real MAC is used
Why I do not see MAC address changing on iOS14?
