XPost: alt.comp.os.windows-10, alt.comp.os.windows-11   
   From: erratic@nomail.afraid.org   
      
   Brian Gregory used his or her keyboard to write :   
      
   > On 07/03/2023 20:23, Andy Burnelli wrote:   
   >> For Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi, does Windows have the capability for...   
   >> 1. MAC randomization *when scanning* 2. MAC randomization *per access   
   >> point* 3. MAC randomization *per connection*   
   >> 4. Did I miss any critical timer periods?   
   >>   
   >> BACKGROUND:   
   >>   
   >> The motherships (Apple & Google & Samsung at least) are starting to be   
   >> aware of the privacy flaws inherent in having a permanent MAC address.   
   >>   
   >> So they're sloooooooooowly providing, release by release, the inherent   
   >> capability to randomize your MAC address during those three tasks.   
   >>   
   >> This article back in 2014, shows the danger of NOT randomizing Wi-Fi:   
   >>   "When scanning for wireless networks, client devices like the   iPhone   
   >> periodically broadcast identifying packets that include   the MAC   
   >> address. In recent years, a number of firms have taken   advantage of   
   >> these broadcasts to track individual devices as   they move around - for   
   >> example, some retail outlets use MAC   address-based tracking to record   
   >> the path that consumers take   as they move through the store, allowing   
   >> long-term measurement   of shopping habits and better placement of sale   
   >> materials   and advertising."   
   >>    
   >>   
   >> And, this line in that same article shows the dangers with Bluetooth:   
   >>   "The city of Houston's TranStar traffic monitoring system,   for   
   >> instance, uses the MAC addresses from Bluetooth devices   to measure   
   >> traffic flow on city streets."   
   >>   
   >> The question I'm asking for this Windows newsgroup is whether Microsoft has   
   >> added this capability to randomize the Bluetooth & Wi-Fi MAC during 3 times   
   >> a. When scanning   
   >> b. When connecting (per access point)   
   >> c. When connecting (per connection)   
   >>   
   >> An example of these types of settings on other platforms might be this:   
   >>  Random MAC on every connect   
   >>   
   >> Although it has implications for your home router LAN setup for static IPs.   
   >>  Static/Reserved IP address   
   >   
   > My Android mobile phone now defaults to some kind of MAC randomization.   
   > It's damn annoying.   
   > If I forget of disable it none of the public Wi-Fi access points I use   
   > will let me use them without re-registering every time.   
   > I don't fully understand what it's doing though, because my own home   
   > Wi-Fi manages to give it the same IP address every time.   
      
   https://armstrongonewire.com/Support/Internet/Articles/Disabling   
   ACRandomization   
      
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