iOS 8 Tidbits: Randomized MAC Addresses, Safari Credit Card Scanning, Indoor Mapping, and More

[gnasher729]

If there's no way to disable this randomised MAC stuff, then no iOS 8 device is going to be able to connect to my network at home, or my corporate network at work.

It also means that networks which rely on MAC for authentication (such as the WiFi on the underground here in London) won't work.

Bit silly if you ask me. I'm not sure how a randomised MAC address helps improve security in any way.

You are of course wrong. Randomised MACs are used when checking what networks are around, and each and every network will tell the device about its presence and will be detected correctly. When the device _connects_ to the network, it uses the real MAC.

Randomised MAC helps with privacy in an obvious way: When you walk around with a shopping centre, all the WiFi routers there won't be able whose phone or iPad it is that comes near the router, unless you actually connect to their network. And it helps with security in a non-obvious way: Today, someone trying to get past MAC checks in your corporate network can just listen to employees' phones and network talking to each other, grab the MAC that some employee's phone sends out, and spoof it. With randomised MAC, that MAC that a hacker can easily grab is worthless, because it doesn't allow _access_ to the network, just network detection.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

I can see grocery stores making use of the indoor mapping feature. I don't know how many times I wish I could pull up maps to find the tomato sause when my wife sends me to the store.

Do you have short term memory loss or something? Seems like the first time you find the tomato sauce, you would remember where it is the next time.

 

[e-coli]

Let me know when you can add tags to Safari bookmarks.

 

[elev8d]

Hide images from photos app, I wonder if this would hide the images from photostream. I can only think of naughty purposes as to why you want to hide images

Man everyone here must work and be friends with people that are completely non-judgmental or not party at all . I'm always very anxious if a coworker/friend asks to see pictures from a trip I took. The last thing I want to do is hand them my phone and say go ahead see for yourself, just be sure to skip anything that might not abide by your personal standards.

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Hidden photos - fantastic! Always a little bit embarrassed to open my photos in front of work colleagues just in case! Whatsapp also automatically adds pictures to library - vast majority of these are fine but occasionally, I receive some blue pics! I know I can stop Whatsapp doing this but actually, why should I? It's my phone and I don't mind dirty pics. I just don't want others seeing them!

Moving pictures to a new folder just duplicated (or linked) them so the hide function is a thumbs up from me. (Yes, definitely just my thumbs!)

Just turn off download to library in settings in whatsapp, then download only the photos you want. The pictures will still be visible in the Media tab and in the conversation stream in whatsapp.

Also, you should switch to Telegram, it's the same as Whatsapp, except your conversations aren't being collected and sold by Facebook.

 

[iLoveLetteri]

The hidden feature was really needed but still its accessible,will there be an option for the hidden album to be password locked?

 

[sprezz]

It's only when you aren't connected and scanning for available networks. Once you go to connect, it will provide the real MAC address.

thanks for clarifying that...

 

[iDuel]

It sounds extremely annoying. Especially if you're on the go or driving. Distraction could cause an accident. Lawsuit in waiting.

It is technically against the law to be using your phone while you are driving in most places. I don't understand how an accident as a result of using your iDevice while driving is Apple's problem.

 

[sumsingwong]

I don't want to accidentally hit "BUY" in iTunes Radio control center. I'm sure I'll still need to confirm, but it will probably switch over to the iTunes Store app and I'll have to home out of that. Sounds annoying.

It won't switch to another app. It provides a pop up to confirm.

 

[mdelvecchio]

If there's no way to disable this randomised MAC stuff, then no iOS 8 device is going to be able to connect to my network at home, or my corporate network at work.

It also means that networks which rely on MAC for authentication (such as the WiFi on the underground here in London) won't work.

Bit silly if you ask me. I'm not sure how a randomised MAC address helps improve security in any way.

youre not understanding it correctly. this is only while your device is anonymous and sniffing for possoble networks to join. not after youve authenticated to one.

 

[gotluck]

You are of course wrong. Randomised MACs are used when checking what networks are around, and each and every network will tell the device about its presence and will be detected correctly. When the device _connects_ to the network, it uses the real MAC.

Randomised MAC helps with privacy in an obvious way: When you walk around with a shopping centre, all the WiFi routers there won't be able whose phone or iPad it is that comes near the router, unless you actually connect to their network. And it helps with security in a non-obvious way: Today, someone trying to get past MAC checks in your corporate network can just listen to employees' phones and network talking to each other, grab the MAC that some employee's phone sends out, and spoof it. With randomised MAC, that MAC that a hacker can easily grab is worthless, because it doesn't allow _access_ to the network, just network detection.

that's pretty nifty

what about when the device is connected to a wireless network, does the device still send the randomized mac to the other unconnected soliciting networks? I assume that's an obvious yes

 

[Glideslope]

This is a privacy issue, not a security issue. And I'm sure you'll still be able to connect to your networks. Give Apple a little credit.

Just so long as it's a "Made For iOS" Wi-Fi.

 

[goatless]

Really you guys have so much trouble navigating a grocery store? Come on

Yes. Yes, we do. :-/

 

[goatless]

Never going to happen. Grocery stores deliberately space things out and put them in weird locations so that you spend more time going up and down the aisles and are more likely to impulse buy.

I'll admit that in addition to purchasing the dozen gallons of milk my wife wanted, I made an impulse purchase or two.

 

[Brian Y]

You are of course wrong.

Was there any need for that, really?

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youre not understanding it correctly. this is only while your device is anonymous and sniffing for possoble networks to join. not after youve authenticated to one.

Yep, as was said on page 1.

 

[darkslide29]

It won't switch to another app. It provides a pop up to confirm.

Image

Good to know, thanks for the info. Still don't like it though.

 

[SteveyAppleSeed]

Multiple photos in Mail

How about the ability to add multiple photos in Mail, when composing a new message from within the App?

I know I can select photos in the Gallery and send by mail, but it's super annoying to come across these UX inconsistencies.

What's everyone using for a mailbox app, anyway? I loved Sparrow until they stopped supporting it.

 

[sumsingwong]

How about the ability to add multiple photos in Mail, when composing a new message from within the App?



I know I can select photos in the Gallery and send by mail, but it's super annoying to come across these UX inconsistencies.



What's everyone using for a mailbox app, anyway? I loved Sparrow until they stopped supporting it.

That has been available for a while. While your composing an email. Just press and hold in the body until the menu pops up.

 

[Arran]

It is technically against the law to be using your phone while you are driving in most places. I don't understand how an accident as a result of using your iDevice while driving is Apple's problem.

Fair point. I was being a bit hyperbolic with the lawsuit thing.