Rotating MAC address against tracking (WhatsApp etc.)?

Hello privacy specialists!

Apple has a new feature, the rotating IP address.
Does this help me to provide against the location tracking WhatsApp does?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: MAC address not IP address.

It’s not a rotating IP address it’s a rotating MAC address. It’s an identifier that a network uses to identify each device on the network and assign them an IP address. It’s useful so you aren’t tracked across networks or on the same network over time but it doesn’t have anything to do with apps, websites etc they can’t see your MAC address.

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Are you talking about Rotating MAC Addresses, or iCloud Private Relay?

Because either way… no they don’t protect against that.

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What do you mean ?

WhatsApp uses location to share with other people when you want to. So, they could get to them other than that, it is not used at all.

Thanks for your fast reply’s!

Of course the rotating MAC address.

I had the hope this would protect me a bit against Meta. :frowning_face:

Unfortunately WhatsApp is the most common messenger by far in Europe, as you know.

And after trying to bring my contacts to Signal and Threema (which hasn’t worked), I’m very frustrated to still „need“ WhatsApp. But I’m looking for solutions to keep me as private as possible.

According to my limited understanding Meta can still track your location when sharing your location is enabled. They use IP addresses and the mobile network.

You are sharing location via Google Maps or Apple Maps. AFAIK, WhatsApp gives a nice interface or uses an API to show you simply.

Of course, they know the IP address you use and the carrier as they need to send SMS.

Of course Apple maps needs my location. Otherwise a navigation system would be senseless.
But especially Meta is not known for their good behavior with user data.

If you are using WhatsApp you have to face with it. I use only made for WhatsApp features and hasn’t touched their Meta AI at all so far.

Other than that just change settings as per your privacy needs. Encrypted backups and 2FA. That’s all. You could do about it.

There is nothing much. You are kind of mixing things here that I don’t understand what you are trying to prove or infer here.