Why Do Apple Devices Send Wi-Fi Probe Requests Directed to Specific SSIDs Rather Than Broadcasting Them?

• Wi-Fi probe requests are packets sent by wireless devices to discover and connect to nearby Wi-Fi networks. Apple devices use active probe requests for specific SSIDs rather than broadcasting them to all access points for various reasons, such as improving user experience, saving battery life, and enhancing security.
• However, active probe requests also expose personal information and location history to anyone who can capture them. Therefore, it is important to take some measures to protect your privacy from Wi-Fi probe requests, such as turning off your Wi-Fi when not in use, using a VPN service, changing your MAC address, deleting or forgetting networks, and using a Wi-Fi analyzer tool.
• The article also provides some of the best Wi-Fi analyzer tools for different platforms and purposes, such as SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor, NetSpot, InSSIDer, NetCut, and WiFi Analyzer. It also answers some frequently asked questions related to Wi-Fi probe requests and Wi-Fi analyzer tools.

If you have ever used a Wi-Fi analyzer tool to scan the wireless networks around you, you may have noticed that some devices send probe requests with specific network names (SSIDs) instead of broadcasting them to all nearby access points. This behavior is especially common among Apple devices, such as iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. But why do they do that? And what are the implications for your privacy and security? In this article, we will try to answer these questions and explain how you can protect yourself from unwanted Wi-Fi tracking.

What Are Wi-Fi Probe Requests?

Wi-Fi probe requests are packets sent by wireless devices to discover and connect to nearby Wi-Fi networks. When you turn on your device’s Wi-Fi, it will automatically scan the airwaves for available networks and send probe requests to them. These requests contain information about your device, such as its MAC address (a unique identifier), its supported data rates and capabilities, and the SSID of the network it is looking for.

There are two types of probe requests: active and passive. Active probe requests are directed to a specific SSID, while passive probe requests are broadcasted to all access points within range. The difference is that active probe requests can speed up the network discovery process by asking only for the networks you have previously connected to or manually added, while passive probe requests have to wait for the access points to respond with their network names and other information.

Why Do Apple Devices Use Active Probe Requests?

Apple devices use active probe requests for several reasons. One is to improve the user experience by reducing the time it takes to find and connect to a known network. Another is to save battery life by minimizing the number of probe requests sent and received. A third reason is to enhance security by avoiding connecting to rogue access points that may have the same SSID as a legitimate network.

However, there is also a downside to using active probe requests: they can reveal your personal information and location history to anyone who can capture them. For example, if your device sends a probe request for “Home Wi-Fi”, it means that you have connected to a network with that name before, which could indicate where you live or frequently visit. Similarly, if your device sends a probe request for “Starbucks Wi-Fi”, it means that you have been to a Starbucks location recently, which could reveal your habits and preferences.

How Can You Protect Your Privacy from Wi-Fi Probe Requests?

Fortunately, there are some ways you can protect your privacy from Wi-Fi probe requests. Here are some tips:

• Turn off your Wi-Fi when you are not using it. This will prevent your device from sending any probe requests and also save battery life.
• Use a VPN service when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. A VPN will encrypt your internet traffic and hide your IP address, making it harder for anyone to track or intercept your online activities.
• Change your device’s MAC address periodically. A MAC address is a unique identifier that can be used to link your device to different networks and locations. Some devices, such as iOS 14 and later, macOS Big Sur and later, and Android 10 and later, have a feature that allows you to use a random MAC address for each network you join. This will make it more difficult for anyone to track your device across different networks.
• Delete or forget networks that you no longer use or trust. This will prevent your device from sending active probe requests for those networks and reduce the risk of connecting to rogue access points.
• Use a Wi-Fi analyzer tool to monitor the wireless networks around you and detect any suspicious activity. A Wi-Fi analyzer tool can help you scan the airwaves for available networks, their signal strength, channel, encryption, and other details. It can also help you identify any rogue access points or devices that may be trying to spoof or attack your network.

What Are Some of the Best Wi-Fi Analyzer Tools?

There are many Wi-Fi analyzer tools available for different platforms and purposes. Some of them are free, while others require a subscription or a one-time purchase. Here are some of the best Wi-Fi analyzer tools we recommend:

• SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) (Free Trial): This is one of the most comprehensive and powerful tools for monitoring and managing wireless networks. It can help you analyze network performance, troubleshoot issues, optimize configuration, detect security threats, and more. It also has features such as Wi-Fi heat maps, wireless packet capture, NetPath™ critical path visualization, PerfStack™ cross-stack data correlation, and more.
• NetSpot (Free Version Available): This is a simple but effective tool for analyzing and optimizing Wi-Fi networks. It can help you create detailed surveys of your wireless coverage area, identify dead zones and interference sources, find the best channel and placement for your access points, and more.
• InSSIDer ($19.99 per year): This is a popular and easy-to-use tool for scanning and analyzing Wi-Fi networks. It can help you discover the networks around you, their SSIDs, signal strength, channel, security, and more. It can also help you find the best channel for your network, avoid interference, and improve your Wi-Fi performance.
• NetCut (Free Version Available): This is a tool for managing and controlling your Wi-Fi network. It can help you see the devices connected to your network, their MAC addresses, IP addresses, names, and more. It can also help you block or limit the bandwidth of any device, protect your network from ARP spoofing attacks, and more.
• WiFi Analyzer (Free): This is a tool for analyzing Wi-Fi networks on Windows 10 devices. It can help you see the networks around you, their signal strength, channel, security, and more. It can also help you find the best channel for your network, avoid interference, and improve your Wi-Fi performance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions related to Wi-Fi probe requests and Wi-Fi analyzer tools:

Question: What is the difference between active and passive scanning in Wi-Fi?

Answer: Active scanning is when a device sends probe requests to specific or all access points within range to discover available networks. Passive scanning is when a device listens to the beacon frames broadcasted by the access points to discover available networks.

Question: How can I see the probe requests sent by my device or other devices?

Answer: You can use a Wi-Fi analyzer tool that supports packet capture and analysis, such as Wireshark or NPM. You can also use a command-line tool such as tcpdump or airodump-ng.

Question: How can I stop my device from sending probe requests?

Answer: You can turn off your Wi-Fi when you are not using it or use a feature that allows you to disable active scanning for specific or all networks. For example, on iOS devices, you can go to Settings > Wi-Fi > Auto-Join Hotspot and select Never.

Question: How can I prevent my device from connecting to rogue access points?

Answer: You can use a feature that allows you to verify the identity of the access point before connecting to it. For example, on iOS devices, you can go to Settings > Wi-Fi > Ask to Join Networks and enable it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Wi-Fi probe requests are packets sent by wireless devices to discover and connect to nearby Wi-Fi networks. Apple devices use active probe requests for specific SSIDs rather than broadcasting them to all access points for various reasons, such as improving user experience, saving battery life, and enhancing security. However, this also exposes personal information and location history to anyone who can capture them. Therefore, it is important to take some measures to protect your privacy from Wi-Fi probe requests, such as turning off your Wi-Fi when not in use, using a VPN service, changing your MAC address, deleting or forgetting networks, and using a Wi-Fi analyzer tool. We hope this article has helped you understand the topic better and provided you with some useful tips and tools. Thank you for reading! 😊

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The author and publisher make no warranties or representations of any kind with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this article and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The author and publisher shall not be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.