EFF Says iOS 11 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Toggles Are Misleading and Compromise User Security

POST

MAIL

Posted October 6, 2017 at 7:48pm by iClarified

The Electronic Frontier Foundation says the new iOS 11 toggles for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that don't really turn them off are misleading and compromise user security.

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. However, both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will continue to be available, so you can use:
● AirDrop
● AirPlay
● Apple Pencil
● Apple Watch
● Continuity features, like Handoff and Instant Hotspot
● Instant Hotspot
● Location Services

This differs from all other versions of iOS where toggling Wi-Fi or Bluetooth in Control Center would turn them off.

EFF notes:
Instead, what actually happens in iOS 11 when you toggle your quick settings to “off” is that the phone will disconnect from Wi-Fi networks and some devices, but remain on for Apple services. Location Services is still enabled, Apple devices (like Apple Watch and Pencil) stay connected, and services such as Handoff and Instant Hotspot stay on. Apple’s UI fails to even attempt to communicate these exceptions to its users. It gets even worse. When you toggle these settings in the Control Center to what is best described as"off-ish," they don’t stay that way. The Wi-Fi will turn back full-on if you drive or walk to a new location. And both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will turn back on at 5:00 AM. This is not clearly explained to users, nor left to them to choose, which makes security-aware users vulnerable as well.

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.

Hit the link below for the EFF's full post on the matter...

Read More

EFF Says iOS 11 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Toggles Are Misleading and Compromise User Security

Follow iClarified

Am_1664 - October 8, 2017 at 6:31am

So what's airplane mode for then! That turns WiFi and Bluetooth off

Reply · Like

MUKAI - October 8, 2017 at 12:23am

Aren't EFF the jailbreak fanboys? They are just upset that there isn't a button to enable 'piracy mode' in the Control Centre.

MUKAI - October 9, 2017 at 5:48pm

Ahoy, Matey!

Kornmehl - October 7, 2017 at 9:06pm

Not sure what the problem is. The function of the WiFi and Bluetooth buttons in Control Center is CLEARLY EXPLAINED. RTFM. What? You don't like reading manuals? That isn't Apple's fault. The iPhone is an extremely complicated device. There are many functions available. Just RTFM.

Me - October 7, 2017 at 7:41pm

I'm not sure if they did it right, maybe it's genius - that they counted on EFF to make a fuss of it - so they would publicize it much better to end users. But there needs to be something like that, an ability to disable some functionality while not shutting down some other useful stuff. It really needs a new standard for WiFi and BT, but short of that this is better than nothing. And you still have your all-or-nothing switch in settings, so it's a good trade off for me.

RC - October 7, 2017 at 4:47pm

The control center Wi-Fi is only to temporarily turns off for occasions with slow store Wi-Fi but not to remove the setup. I find it very convenient whenever the Wi-Fi is too slow like Macdonald and Starbucks. If you want Wi-Fi turned off permanent, use settings.

Name14 - October 7, 2017 at 9:13pm

Well, that defeats the purpose of "Control Centre" in the first place...

Name14 - October 7, 2017 at 9:14pm

Shoukd have renamed it to "You think you did Centre" or "Maybe nit Centre".

not

RC - October 7, 2017 at 4:43pm

The control center Wi-Fi (and Bluetooth) is only to temporarily turn off for occasions with slow store Wi-Fi but not to disable as in the setup. If you want Wi-Fi turned off permanent, use options in settings.

Junior - October 7, 2017 at 1:04pm

Lol most of these posters crack me up with their security flaws

Hiob314 - October 7, 2017 at 10:44am

Apple is not the company it was with steve... the products are still nice looking, but samsung and others are now in front

Adel naji - October 7, 2017 at 10:05am

Yes I agree , it is not secured to have Wifi and Bluetooth Radio signals on at all time , at the beginning I thought it was a flaw that will be fixed in iOS 11.1 for example but after reading this article I now realize that Apple have deliberately changed the behavior of Buttons under Control Center

D4xM4Nx - October 7, 2017 at 7:17am

I agree with the fact that all toggles in the control center should turn off said radios completely, not only disconnect from current networks. Bluetooth is known for the security flaws it's got, can be exploited to gain remote access. Not sure if the Wi-Fi exploit packet mentioned at r/jailbreak still works on iOS 11, if it does, it's a big risk having the radio on all the time.

George - October 7, 2017 at 1:33am

Most posters here are so completely full of it. Guys. You are entitled to your opinion. But don't make things up.

Bigjiba - October 7, 2017 at 1:24am

Splits gate or whatever they are calling the expanding battery on iPhone 8 causing the screen to pop off AND iOS 11 debacle is gonna cost Apple. They are seriously pissing people off. My friend works at an Apple store and users are literally yelling at staff about the battery life. Return the 3D Touch corner multi task feature and return the control center to actually CONTROL the hardware. Duh. Just a reminder that you can ask Siri to shut off these things. Apple has real contempt at its customers.

Sabtain Aziz - October 7, 2017 at 7:22am

The 3D Touch multitask feature is coming in A future update it’s confirmed by Apple

Bigjiba - October 8, 2017 at 3:36am

Thanks for your reply

Rishi - October 7, 2017 at 1:12am

Not only does it compromise security but also the battery life. Most users struggle to extract a day’s usage on a single charge and this misleading “off-ish” routine is just robbing them of a few more hours of charge. This is probably the worst feature on the iOS11.

Sunjack - October 7, 2017 at 12:23am

Hahaha yes I sent this to Apple using the feedback tool. Like 3 weeks ago.

Tim - October 6, 2017 at 8:56pm

Seriously? Compromises security? A bit of hyperbole, eh?

Cristian Martinez - October 7, 2017 at 1:34am

Not exactly. Your phone can be broken into with the right WiFi tool so if you think WiFi is off on your phone but it’s not, you could be vulnerable to these types of attacks

Tim - October 7, 2017 at 1:56am

Your response makes no sense. How would you know to turn off Wi-Fi? Is there some specific situation where you would feel vulnerable? No? Then you would have to keep Wi-Fi off all of the time. If you were doing so, you wouldn't be relying on the control center; you would have turned off Wi-Fi in settings because you NEVER plan to use it. This, of course, is ludicrous. Therefore, you are talking NONSENSE.

Philippe - October 7, 2017 at 5:23pm

There are none so blind as those who will not see.