Apple’s latest patent describes technology to ‘rank’ public Wi-Fi networks
Apple has been granted a new patent for a “ranking system” of public Wi-Fi networks based on the quality of the connection and its security. According to the filing, it could allow the iPhone maker to implement a new way to identify Wi-Fi networks in public places without having to identify the user and their location. Other patents and patent filings related to the Cupertino-based tech company in recent months include a patent describing a self-healing display, an iPhone with virtual buttons and a clamshell-folding smartphone.
Apple Patent Details Wi-Fi Ranking System
According to a patent Issued to Apple by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on July 16, the iPhone maker devises a system for mapping crowd-sourced access points without identifying the devices or the user’s exact locations and keeping the data anonymous. The patent is titled “Crowd Sourced Privacy Preserving Access Point Mapping.”
It describes a service that allows a server device to receive reports from multiple devices about the wireless access point they are connected to. This report would contain multiple attributes and measurements.
Apple’s system would then generate a network topography, calculate network quality scores, and provide information on various other attributes. It would also label the scores as follows: High Quality, Popular, Captured, Suspicious, and more.
Apple patent for Access Point Mapping
Photo credit: US Patent and Trademark Office/Apple
According to Apple, this system would make connecting to public Wi-Fi networks easier and more secure, and would inform users about the quality of the connection and the security details. The user would then be able to choose whether to connect to the network.
While private Wi-Fi connections in safe places like our homes are considered safer, public networks can pose a risk to careless users. Threat actors can potentially hop onto these networks and attack vulnerable devices, performing nefarious activities such as financial, identity, and data theft.
Virtual private networks (VPNs) are typically the first line of defense against public Wi-Fi networks, encrypting user data as it passes through the device. Meanwhile, this proposed system from Apple could be a first-party solution for its devices, such as the iPhone, iPad and Mac.
However, it is crucial to note that tech companies like Apple file many patents for proposed devices and services, but not all of them make it to the development stage. Therefore, Apple’s Wi-Fi network protection system as proposed in the patent may or may not appear in the future.
