Privacy is an essential pillar of Apple devices and an aspect that is often overlooked when connecting to a specific Wi-Fi network. When we connect to a network, such as our brand new iPhone 14, we share the MAC address of our network card with that network. This address is unique and immutable, which can allow us to be tracked.
It is enough that this address is checked in all our connections, both within the network and in other networks with which data is shared to locate us. Fortunately, this can be easily avoided with a simple setting.
Our MAC address uniquely identifies us
Just as we need an IP address when connecting to a network so that the data packets we send and receive reach their destination. Something similar happens at the local network level with the MAC address of our network card, even with the network we create with iPhone Internet Sharing. The router or access point to which we connect needs to know this address in order to send data packets to us and not to other machines that are also present on the network.
The MAC (Media Access Control) address has been built into the network card since its manufacture and never changes. This has its advantages and disadvantages. The main disadvantages are that it can be used for tracing. In the case of a large network, for example, the network operator can know from where we access between several access points and therefore know our movements.
How and why to randomise your Wi-Fi MAC address
Avoiding being tracked by our MAC address is as simple as activating the necessary function on our devices. By doing so, the system will change the address on a regular basis, preventing us from being tracked by an identifier that is now constantly changing. To activate this setting, simply follow these steps:
- We connect normally to a Wi-Fi network.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch.
- Go to Wi-Fi.
- Tap the network you are connected to.
- Turn on Private Wi-Fi Address.
From now on, every time we connect to the network on which we have activated this function, a random address will be used, which will change regularly. This will prevent tracking in the long term. A detail that, like password-protecting photos on the iPhone, is important to bear in mind.
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