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189 points thunderbong | 3 comments | | HN request time: 0.448s | source
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DavideNL ◴[] No.41416242[source]
I assume this detects "new devices" by its MAC address?

Seems unreliable, with modern devices changing to a new random MAC address frequently.

Then your data would be spammed with new devices constantly?

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windexh8er ◴[] No.41416757[source]
In general "private" WiFi doesn't work like this. Instead it's per SSID. So on iOS [0] and Android [1], a new private MAC is generated once per SSID and preserved until network settings are reset. This is why you won't generally have issues with connecting to and leaving a captive portal (hotel, airplane, etc).

[0] https://support.apple.com/en-us/102509 [1] https://source.android.com/docs/core/connect/wifi-mac-random...

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jamesmotherway ◴[] No.41417688[source]
iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia support rotating MAC addresses, and it's configurable on a per-network basis.
replies(1): >>41418964 #
1. windexh8er ◴[] No.41418964[source]
It's always been configurable on a per-network basis. Apple has changed it to some odd, assumptive, defaults now because their new approach will break a number of common network situations.

Also, if you read through comments on how it's been working in the betas it doesn't seem as though it's been working as expected for a number of folks. The Android implementation is a better design, IMO. Persistent / non-persistent "privacy" is an easier follow. Also, many folks want the capabilities of both modes depending on the networks they're connecting to and the devices they're managing touching specific networks. I feel as though Apple is going backwards in a way with this new change, I won't be upgrading to iOS 18 or macOS Sequoia for the foreseeable future though given all the things Apple is adding.

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2. DavideNL ◴[] No.41422413[source]
For reference: https://blog.elevensoftware.com/ios-18s-rotate-wi-fi-address...
3. jamesmotherway ◴[] No.41541891[source]
Thanks. I would suggest you reconsider deferring updates. Apple does not consistently backport security updates to prior versions of macOS.