XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone, alt.privacy   
   From: jollyroger@pobox.com   
      
   On 2024-05-30, Oscar Mayer  wrote:   
   > On Thu, 30 May 2024 17:27:05 -0400, Alan Browne wrote:   
   >   
   >>> It's obvious that Jolly Roger doesn't know the difference between an SSID   
   >>> and a BSSID because it was clear that the problem isn't in the SSID at all.   
   >>   
   >> It's actually the root of it which you would know if you knew at all   
   >> what it going on.  I'll explain this as to a child to give you a   
   >> fighting chance.   
   >>   
   >> When an a device such as a phone detects a WiFi access point it gets all   
   >> sorts of interesting information.   
   >>   
   >> 1. The BSSID which is a binary code (usually expressed in hexadecimal).   
   >> 2. The SSID which is a label assigned to it by whoever administers the   
   >> access point. "AirPortFreeWiFi" for example.   
   >>   
   >> The device (phone) user usually is only interested in the latter - he   
   >> picks from whatever is available to access the WiFi - if it is password   
   >> access, then of course he'll need that too.   
   >>   
   >> The actual working connection does not use the SSID - it uses the BSSID.   
   >>   (You can refer to it is as the MAC or Wi-Fi address if that helps you   
   >> connect all these big people ideas - although they often/usually the   
   >> same they don't have to be the same...).   
   >>   
   >> Most devices will display the BSSID if the user wants to delve into it.   
   >> On most phones this would be shown as the MAC or Wi-Fi address.  Or of   
   >> course, once can use one of many tools to display same.   
   >>   
   >> Thus - in JR's earlier reply - he was being quite clear about what he   
   >> was replying to and did so correctly.   
   >   
   > It's clear you don't understand the issue   
      
   Projection, it is *you* who don't understand the ramifications - or how   
   WiFi access points work.   
      
   > "However, there is one crucial difference between the way in which Apple   
   > and Google devices carry out this task - and that's where the privacy issue   
   > arises."   
      
   What Arlen refrained from quoting is that this "crucial difference" is   
   simply that with Apple's database, searches yield more results of access   
   points that are near the queried B/SSID. What he also isn't   
   acknowledging is that when you search for a B/SSID on Wigle.net's map,   
   you also see all nearby access points right there on a handy visual map.   
      
   Nothing Arlen can say changes the FACT (little Arlen loves that word)   
   those IDs are still broadcast to the public by those WiFi access points.   
      
   --   
   E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my ravenous SPAM filter.   
   I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.   
      
   JR   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)