EFF Says iOS 11's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Toggles in Control Center Are Misleading and Compromise Security

[paradox00]

Probably because when I turn something off, I expect it to be turned off. Not too difficult to understand I hope.

It's not difficult to understand, but the button doesn't say "off" it says "disconnected". There are three status icons: blue is connected, grey is disconnected, and grey with a line through it is off. If you force touch in control center. You get descriptions that say exactly that. Off requires turning the radio off in settings.

The communication is there, but it could be clearer. They also could have included a three way toggle, I don't think I'd personally like that better, but it would address the issue. I have a strong suspicion that disconnect is the far more desired option, and Apple would have had that data when they made their decision. It's unfortunate that turning off wifi requires airplane mode or a journey into the settings app, but I suspect a connect/disconnect toggle is more desirable for the typical user.

Maybe you should go complain that turning your cars headlights off still leaves the daytime running lights on, and you have to turn your car off to turn those off. On/off isn't the only toggle possible.

 

[flat five]

Doe's the off in the control center explain it like that?

it means disconnect.. not off.

if you didn't know that before, now you know.
settled.

(unless you want to keep acting like you still think it means 'off'.. in which case.. carry on)

 

[Dave.UK]

It's not difficult to understand, but the button doesn't say "off" it says "disconnected". There are three status icons: blue is connected, grey is disconnected, and grey with a line through it is off. If you force touch in control center. You get descriptions that say exactly that. Off requires turning the radio off in settings.

The communication is there, but it could be clearer. They also could have included a three way toggle, I don't think I'd personally like that better, but it would address the issue. I have a strong suspicion that disconnect is the far more desired option, and Apple would have had that data when they made their decision. It's unfortunate that turning off wifi requires airplane mode or a journey into the settings app, but I suspect a connect/disconnect toggle is more desirable for the typical user.

Maybe you should go complain that turning your cars headlights off still leaves the daytime running lights on, and you have to turn your car off to turn those off. On/off isn't the only toggle possible.

So as you say, its a 3 way toggle now. However in previous iOS versions its was a 2 way toggle?
How have Apple communicated that?
[doublepost=1507321253][/doublepost]

it means disconnect.. not off.

if you didn't know that before, now you know.
settled.

(unless you want to keep acting like you still think it means 'off'.. in which case.. carry on)

Did it mean off prior to iOS 11? If so, how have Apple communicated this new change?

 

[techwhiz]

People use control center?

 

[miketcool]

This is also a problem with "Live Photos" in the camera app. You can adjust the setting to remember your last saved setting, but each time you access the quick camera in Messages it turns Live Photo back on and then by default saves that setting in the Camera app.

iOS is leaving my phone open to more exploitation while forcing me to capture more data through my camera. I really want all three of these features to turn off when I TURN THEM OFF.

 

[Jett0516]

iOS 11 went through 10 beta versions and not one developers & public testers complained about this?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[flat five]

Did it mean off prior to iOS 11? If so, how have Apple communicated this new change?

it gives appropriate feedback when using it.. do you even use these controls? if so, you should be able to see what it's doing.

also here:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208086



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Use Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in Control Center with iOS 11
Learn how to control Wi-Fi and Bluetooth from Control Center on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with iOS 11 and later.


About Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
In iOS 11 and later, when you toggle the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth buttons in Control Center, your device will immediately disconnect from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth accessories. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will continue to be available, so you can use these important features:

• AirDrop
• AirPlay
• Apple Pencil
• Apple Watch
• Continuity features, like Handoff and Instant Hotspot
• Instant Hotspot
• Location Services

Disconnect from Wi-Fi networks
Open Control Center and tap

. The icon will dim and your device will disconnect from any network that you're connected to.

While Wi-Fi is disabled, auto-join for any nearby Wi-Fi networks will also be disabled until:

• You turn on Wi-Fi in Control Center.
• You connect to a Wi-Fi network in Settings > Wi-Fi.
• You walk or drive to a new location.
• It's 5 AM local time.
• You restart your device.

Disconnect from Bluetooth accessories
Open Control Center and tap

. The icon will dim and your device will disconnect from any accessory it's connected to, except for Apple Watch, Instant Hotspot, Apple Pencil, and Continuity features, like Handoff.

If Bluetooth is turned off, you won’t be able to connect your iOS device to your Bluetooth accessories until:

• You turn on Bluetooth in Control Center.
• You connect to a Bluetooth accessory in Settings > Bluetooth.
• It's 5 AM local time.
• You restart your device.

Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
If you want to completely disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for all networks and devices, follow these steps:

• To turn off Wi-Fi, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and turn off Wi-Fi.
• To turn off Bluetooth, go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn off Bluetooth.

For the best experience on your iOS device, try to keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

This is actually one of my favorite things about iOS11. The ability to drop a slow network without having to turn off WiFi completely I think is brilliant. Although I agree a 3D toggle with a choice would also be good.

Any decent WiFi manager app will let you do this very simply.

 

[coolfactor]

I second this, really hate having to go in settings just to turn off the WiFi as I really don’t need it while driving, or during a transit.

Then how it works now in iOS 11 is fine for you. The radios are still enabled, but not "active". They are not trying to search for and connect to nearby networks and devices. I suspect it dramatically lowers power usage without being fully cut off from other Apple devices that you may own and have nearby.

But I must agree — Apple made a mistake implementing it this way. Maybe if they had a three-mode button — On, Disconnected, and Off — then it would give users that much-needed feedback while allowing it to operate the way it's been designed to in iOS 11.

 

[EricNau]

You know, I was pretty annoyed with this change, too. But now that I know how it works, and have used it a few times, I'm actually in favor of it.

Sure, we're not used to buttons working this way. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't.

 

[melendezest]

This is what happens when you attempt to remove any trace of skeuomorphism from the software.

What should be obvious now isn't.

It doesn't have to be everywhere (leather binders), but when used properly, it works like nothing else.

 

[LordVic]

it gives appropriate feedback when using it.. do you even use these controls? if so, you should be able to see what it's doing.

also here:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208086



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Use Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in Control Center with iOS 11
Learn how to control Wi-Fi and Bluetooth from Control Center on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with iOS 11 and later.


About Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
In iOS 11 and later, when you toggle the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth buttons in Control Center, your device will immediately disconnect from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth accessories. Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will continue to be available, so you can use these important features:

• AirDrop
• AirPlay
• Apple Pencil
• Apple Watch
• Continuity features, like Handoff and Instant Hotspot
• Instant Hotspot
• Location Services

Disconnect from Wi-Fi networks
Open Control Center and tap

. The icon will dim and your device will disconnect from any network that you're connected to.

While Wi-Fi is disabled, auto-join for any nearby Wi-Fi networks will also be disabled until:

• You turn on Wi-Fi in Control Center.
• You connect to a Wi-Fi network in Settings > Wi-Fi.
• You walk or drive to a new location.
• It's 5 AM local time.
• You restart your device.

Disconnect from Bluetooth accessories
Open Control Center and tap

. The icon will dim and your device will disconnect from any accessory it's connected to, except for Apple Watch, Instant Hotspot, Apple Pencil, and Continuity features, like Handoff.

If Bluetooth is turned off, you won’t be able to connect your iOS device to your Bluetooth accessories until:

• You turn on Bluetooth in Control Center.
• You connect to a Bluetooth accessory in Settings > Bluetooth.
• It's 5 AM local time.
• You restart your device.

Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
If you want to completely disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for all networks and devices, follow these steps:

• To turn off Wi-Fi, go to Settings > Wi-Fi and turn off Wi-Fi.
• To turn off Bluetooth, go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn off Bluetooth.

For the best experience on your iOS device, try to keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.

the problem with this change, is that it's not obvious. in previous iOS's, and in every other device that has wifi, when WiFi is toggled it turns off. Apple has now attempted to change long standing norms for behaviour of toggles. they can if they want, it's their OS, but it's user confusing and doesn't follow expected norms and behaviours.

is it being blown out of proportion? probably. But the people pointing out that it's confusing and a change that didn't make sense to make aren't necessarily wrong.

 

[Guidonculous]

Agreed. If it was always like this, not a problem, but ten years one way to then change it to a compromising style?

When I’ve turned WiFi “off” I’ve found myself connecting to random unprotected networks. That’s a massive security issue.

Why on earth would you let you iPhone join unapproved networks at all then?

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

Now if I could just manually select my WiFi, I’d be thrilled. Because when I toggle it, it drops the poor connection, then ignores the good one connection and simply reconnects to the bad one.

Use a WiFi manager app. Simple.

 

[flat five]

Agreed. If it was always like this, not a problem, but ten years one way to then change it to a compromising style?

10 years? you sure about that?

 

[Kabeyun]

Thought this was odd when I first read about it. Inclined to agree with EFF. Easy enough to add a confirm “Disconnect or Off?” window after touching the control center button.

 

[2IS]

EFF always feels the need to define things for everyone, even where they don't understand them. They've turned into a group that does nothing but complain and have given up on actually taking action as they use to.

Apple made this change because it's the intension most users have when they use that functionality. For most, they don't care if it's truly on or off, just that they can disconnect from the current network/device quickly. If you're that paranoid that you need to turn off everything, airplane mode it is.

There it is, the most retarded post I'll read all day... Your solution for me wanting to turn off my blue tooth radio is airplane mode? I'd love to now what you think airplane mode does.

 

[Gilligan's last elephant]

I kinda like how they work. I usually only "disconnect" from WiFi because I have a poor connection to the current AP and I want to switch to cellular.

Tapping the button drops my WiFi connection, but keeps WiFi turned on. I don't have to remember to turn it back on later.

Why not do a quick double tap. Turns WiFi off then quickly back on. This will disconnect from current connection then immediately turn WiFi on again.

 

[KrispE00]

iOS 11 went through 10 beta versions and not one developers & public testers complained about this?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I complained about this in every single beta version. At first, I reported it as a bug, until I figured out what was actually happening.
For 4 whole years, you could just turn off WiFi and Bluetooth in control center. Now, performing the same action doesn’t produce the same result. It’s completely unintuitive.
[doublepost=1507324258][/doublepost]Suggestion for iOS 12: Pressing pause only pauses your music temporarily. It’ll resume playing at 5AM every day.

 

[macTW]

10 years? you sure about that?

For 10 years, if you wanted WiFi turned off, you switched it off. Sometimes in settings and sometimes in control center. Now, they secretly changed it so turning WiFi off doesn’t turn it off.

 

[flat five]

There it is, the most retarded post I'll read all day... Your solution for me wanting to turn off my blue tooth radio is airplane mode? I'd love to now what you think airplane mode does.

probably if you want to turn off your bluetooth radio in iOS 11, you should do that via Settings.
it takes what, 2.5 seconds or so?

 

[Allyance]

What's the big deal? It's a new feature, get used to it. It doesn't negate using the settings to actually turn off the WiFi radio, but is easier when you don't want your phone to latch on to another network, like mine did today in MickeyD's.

 

[flat five]

in this thread (or, in this forum)



(18+.. language etc)

 

[gnasher729]

So turning off Wifi and Bluetooth via control center doesn't really turn them off. Turning them off in settings does? Oh that makes sense....

I turn WiFi off sometimes when I'm in the reach of some WiFi network that doesn't actually give internet access. And it's nice to have it turned on later when I forgot about it, so I don't eat up my data allowance while I'm at home.

How many people actually switch WiFi off for security reasons?

 

[MEJHarrison]

Use a WiFi manager app. Simple.

Simple? No, the Control Panel is simple. Turning it "off" to disconnect from the current bad connection, then "on" again to reconnect to a better connection should be simple. If I need to load a separate app to connect to a better WiFi signal, I'll go to the Settings app. I'm honestly not seeing any advantage whatsoever in your solution. It sounds like a flashlight or emoji app to be honest. Totally unnecessary in today's world.