Slashdot Mirror
MAC Address Randomization Flaws Leave Android and iOS Phones Open To Tracking (theregister.co.uk)
New submitter cryptizard writes: Modern Android and iOS versions include a technology called MAC address randomization to prevent passive tracking of users as they move from location to location. Unfortunately, researchers have revealed that this technology is implemented sporadically by device manufacturers and is often deployed with significant flaws that allow it to be easily defeated. A research paper [published by U.S. Naval Academy researchers] highlights a number of flaws in both Android and iOS that allow an adversary to track users even when their phones are using randomized MAC addresses. Most significantly, they demonstrate that a flaw in the way wireless chipsets handle low-level control messages can be exploited to track 100% of devices, regardless of manufacturer or operating system.
Yes, this is why I have 17 different phones. One for home, one for the office, one for the mall, one for the coffee shop, one for Amazon, one for Twitter, etc. It's great because I never see ads that are targeted to me. The only problem is that I'd like to visit my friend in San Fransisco but I can't do it until I get another phone.