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iOS 8 Strikes an Unexpected Blow Against Location Tracking

Posted by Unknown on from the waiting-for-obvious-patents dept.

schwit1 (797399) writes 'It wasn't touted onstage, but a new iOS 8 feature is set to cause havoc for location trackers, and score a major win for privacy.As spotted by Frederic Jacobs, the changes have to do with the MAC address used to identify devices within networks. When iOS 8 devices look for a connection, they randomize the MAC address, effectively disguising any trace of the real device until it decides to connect to a network.'

6 of 323 comments (clear)

  1. but changing MAC is like filing serial# off a car! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    At least according to the prosecutors who went after Aaron Swartz. His laptop got locked out of a network so he changed the MAC address with the built-in MacOS GUI utility and they said that was like filing the serial number off a car. Now all iphones are going to change it randomly during network scan? OMG, that's like a car that files off its own serial number every time you go around the block! Alert the authorities!!!!! Sigh.

  2. Re:Apple Actually Cares About Privacy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Generally, I've found this to be true. Their business model does not depend on a lack of customer privacy like Google.

    No, this is about 3rd parties tracking you - it means your iPhone does not provide its MAC address to the network(s) it has found. This never had anything to do with Apple tracking you nor does not stop Apple from keeping tabs on what networks you have identified while looking for a connection.

  3. Apple would sell the tracking info by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 1, Interesting

    The randomized MAC addresses might not be all that random. Apple might be able to reverse engineer the fake mac address to find the true mac address. That algorithm might be licensed to "business partners" for a fee. Apple is just interested in preventing third parties from tracking you without paying the due share to Apple.

    --
    sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
  4. Re:Apple Actually Cares About Privacy by jedrek · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Apple's falling out with Google over Maps was about GOOG wanting more data and Apple not wanting them to gather it.

  5. Re: Apple Actually Cares About Privacy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Why would he do that? Everyone knows that just having source code available makes software free from bugs and hidden security flaws. Nobody actually needs to check it.

  6. Re:Apple Actually Cares About Privacy by gnasher719 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'm sure Apple will turn your information into profit if it can, don't get me wrong. But it's not their primary business model. As long as the phone costs a lot of money, you can count on them being less interested in what you have to offer after the sale.

    In other words, you are Apple's customer. You are Google's product.