XPost: comp.mobile.android, alt.internet.wireless   
   From: catwheezel@operamail.com   
      
   On 2016-01-30, Alice J.  wrote:   
   > Whiskers wrote in message   
   > slrnnapk21.q7.catwheezel@ID-107770.user.individual.net:   
   >   
   >   
   >> However when searching for something to connect with, your mobile   
   >> phone (like any other WiFi device) will send out signals asking for   
   >> access points it has previously connected with to respond; this is so   
   >> that automatic connection can be established whenever you are within   
   >> range of a known access point - but it also means that anyone   
   >> listening in to the background WiFi traffic can get a list of [all?]   
   >> the access points your device has accessed in the past, which does to   
   >> some extent identify 'you'.  Which is why it's a good idea to switch   
   >> off your device's WiFi unless you're actually using it (that and   
   >> extending battery life).   
   >   
   > You seem to understand where I was going.   
   >   
   > So here's my two part technical question:   
   >   
   > Part 1: I already know that if you hide your SSID at home, then your   
   > mobile device must scream out that SSID in order to connect, which the   
   > mobile device will do, to your detriment, at a local hotspot.   
   >   
   > Part 2: What you just said though, is that it will scream out *all*   
   > your recent connections, and you didn't mention whether or not it will   
   > do that irrespective of whether those prior connections were broadcast   
   > hidden.   
   >   
   > Can you (or someone) clarify, as this is an IMPORTANT POINT!   
      
   I don't know exactly what a device broadcasts when trying to   
   auto-connect; the MAC number of the access point being sought would be   
   better than the SSID as SSIDs aren't unique but MACs are supposed to be.   
   Access points that aren't hiding their SSIDs tell everyone within range   
   both pieces of information.   
      
   Disabling auto-connect should make your presence a little less obvious.   
      
   You can't hide your presence when connecting to a WiFi access point.   
   The best you can do is disguise yourself - eg give your network card a   
   new MAC every time you use it, or only use a device once then discard   
   it.   
      
   --   
   -- ^^^^^^^^^^   
   --  Whiskers   
   -- ~~~~~~~~~~   
      
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