Apple gadgets are well-known for being extraordinarily safe. Not solely is it laborious to put in a virus on an iPhone or Mac, however it’s even tougher to come up with your delicate data.
With that stated, the gadgets aren’t good. And generally it takes Apple an extended time than it ought to to repair among the points the corporate may discover alongside the way in which.
A transparent instance is the Non-public Wi-Fi Deal with characteristic added in iOS 14. Whereas this characteristic appears to be extraordinarily useful on paper, it by no means labored in addition to it ought to have. That’s, till now.
This Apple Privateness Function By no means Actually Labored
When Apple launched iOS 14 in 2020, the corporate introduced many new and funky options that will make your iPhone extra helpful and extra personal.
One in every of these options was known as Non-public Wi-Fi Deal with, which might, in principle, allow you to use a personal tackle once you’re linked to the community, successfully hiding your system’s precise {hardware} tackle.
In case you don’t know, a media entry management tackle, also referred to as a MAC tackle, successfully works like a serial quantity assigned to your iPhone or some other system that’s linked to a community.
With this quantity, it’s simple to establish and even monitor your exercise in your iPhone. So it is sensible to make use of a characteristic like a Non-public Wi-Fi Deal with to keep away from this concern.
Sadly, the Non-public Wi-Fi Deal with characteristic by no means labored as completely as supposed. Whereas it did stop your actual MAC tackle from being picked by primary community monitoring instruments, there was a flaw within the design that meant anybody who was decided to seek out your actual tackle may nonetheless accomplish that so long as they knew the place to look.
In fact, one would anticipate Apple to repair this downside ultimately, however it took the corporate a surprisingly very long time to do it.
iOS 17.1 Lastly Fixes Non-public Wi-Fi Deal with
Now, after a little bit greater than three years, it appears Apple has lastly mounted the Non-public Wi-Fi Deal with characteristic.
Now you can successfully conceal your MAC tackle simply by turning on this characteristic, and if you wish to strive it, right here’s what it’s essential to do:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and faucet on Wi-Fi.
- Faucet the i icon subsequent to the community you’re linked to.
- If it isn’t on, allow Non-public Wi-Fi Deal with.
In fact, it’s essential to be sure you’ve already put in iOS 17.1 or a later software program replace, which you are able to do by going to Settings > Common > Software program Replace.
What If Your iPhone Doesn’t Assist iOS 17?
Apple is aware of not having this characteristic is a privateness and safety danger, which is why it additionally launched a repair for the Non-public Wi-Fi Deal with characteristic in older gadgets that may’t be up to date to iOS 17.
All it’s essential to do is replace your older iPhone to iOS 16.7.2 or iOS 15.8 and this can repair the Non-public Wi-Fi Deal with downside — and some different points as effectively.
Set up iOS 17.1 ASAP
If you happen to haven’t already, iOS 17.1 is one thing it’s essential to set up immediately. Not solely will you repair the Non-public Wi-Fi Deal with characteristic, however this software program replace additionally takes care of some different bugs, in addition to bringing some new options to the desk.