Apple introduced a new privacy feature called “Rotate Wi-Fi Address” in iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. This improves upon the previous “Private Wi-Fi Address” option.
How does “Rotate Wi-Fi Address” work?
Previously, iOS offered “Private Wi-Fi Address,” which assigned a different MAC address to your device for each Wi-Fi network it connected to. While helpful, it wasn’t perfect. If you frequently connected to the same network (like your home Wi-Fi), your device would always use the same MAC address for that network, making you somewhat trackable.
Rotate Wi-Fi Address takes things a step further. It provides a more dynamic solution by randomly changing your device’s MAC address even when connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This makes it significantly harder for trackers to build a profile based on your MAC address.
Taking control of your privacy
Rotate Wi-Fi Address is an opt-in feature, giving you the flexibility to choose when to utilize it. You can enable it globally through the settings menu for all Wi-Fi networks, or you can activate it on a network-by-network basis. This allows you to tailor privacy controls to your specific needs.
Drawbacks
While Rotate Wi-Fi Address offers significant privacy advantages, it’s essential to consider potential drawbacks. Some networks might rely on device recognition for functionalities like access control.
In rare cases, enabling a Rotate Wi-Fi Address could lead to minor connection issues on such networks. It’s always recommended to check with your network administrator if you encounter any problems.
Overall, this feature empowers users to take control of their online identity and makes it more difficult for trackers to follow them across the web. While it might come with slight inconveniences in specific situations, the privacy benefits far outweigh them.
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