iOS has long warned iPhone and iPad users about the security of Wi-Fi networks based on their password type in the Settings app. However, a recent Apple patent suggests that the company aims to enhance this system significantly.
The company has filed a patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), outlining a new system for ranking public Wi-Fi networks based on multiple criteria (via The Mac Observer).
According to the patent description, Apple devices would collect data about Wi-Fi networks anonymously, without identifying the user or their exact location. This data would then be used to map Wi-Fi networks and their characteristics, aiming to “improve the efficiency of interactions between user devices and detected access points.”
One of the patent illustrations provides a clearer picture of how this new system would function. For instance, iOS users might see labels such as “High Quality,” “Popular,” and “Suspicious” in the Settings app to describe a Wi-Fi network. Additionally, the system would prompt users to connect to popular Wi-Fi networks when available.
It’s important to note that Apple frequently files new patents, and not all of them come to fruition. However, given Apple’s strong commitment to privacy, it’s likely that such a system will be implemented in the future to inform users about the reliability of Wi-Fi networks.
