XPost: alt.comp.os.windows-10, alt.comp.os.windows-11   
   From: nospam@nospam.net   
      
   Andy Burns 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.   
   >   
   > Is "scanning" a listen-only activity?   
      
   I get where you're coming from, which is that passive listening shouldn't   
   be a privacy problem but there's got to be a privacy issue to be resolved   
   (whether or not Windows resolves it) because _both_ Apple (for iOS) and   
   Google (for Android) implemented randomized randomization (AFAIK).   
      
   I just don't know what Windows does when scanning for hidden access points.   
      
   Here's a link for Apple's implementation of randomizing MACs for scans.   
       
      
   I also know what Android uses for _connecting_ to a Wi-Fi access point.   
     Random MAC on every connect   
      
   But I am not quite sure what Wi-Fi MAC address is used while _scanning_ for   
   Wi-Fi (or Bluetooth) access points (or for _connecting_ to Bluetooth APs.)   
      
   But that's only background because the question here is what Windows   
   randomizes when Windows actively scans (probes?) for Wi-Fi access points.   
      
   Specifically hidden access points.   
   If I knew how Windows handles these scenarios, I wouldn't be asking. :)   
      
   Some scenarios I can think of where Windows might randomize might be:   
   a. When scanning for hidden access points Windows is aware of   
   b. When scanning for not hidden access points Windows is aware of   
   c. When scanning for access points that are not hidden   
   d. Any others?   
      
   Note: Scanning may be tantamount to probing (but I'm not sure so I added   
   the wireless folks who can clarify if scanning is different from probing).   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)