iOS 8 which was announced at the WWDC last weeks packs bunch of new cool features and focuses more on security. Now, another important feature related to protecting user location has been discovered by security expert Frederic Jacobs.
He revealed that iOS 8 uses random network identifiers when scanning for WiFi access and generates a MAC (Media Access Controller) address. This is a unique identifier for a device and no two devices have the same MAC address. That address is broadcast by devices looking to connect to Wi-Fi networks. The use of this MAC address makes it difficult for marketing companies to track you.
The feature is really a precautionary measure as marketing and analytics companies routinely use this unique identifier to collect data about nearby devices scanning for WiFi network. This means that the only time that the identity of your iOS device is discovered is when you actually connect to a WiFi hotspot.
The Swiss programmer has shared an image on Twitter which is basically a presentation slide from Apple’s WWDC 2014 videos – outlining the new feature.
Via:Engadget