Security & Safety Resource Center

Here’s something most people don’t realize: every time your Windows laptop or tablet scans for a Wi-Fi network, it broadcasts a unique identifier called a MAC (Media Access Control) address. Think of it as a digital fingerprint for your device. And just like a fingerprint, it can be used to track your movements as you move between Wi-Fi networks—at airports, shopping malls, coffee shops, and other public spaces. The good news? Windows gives you a built-in tool to stop it.

What is a MAC address and why does it matter?

A MAC address is a unique hardware identifier assigned to your device’s network adapter at the factory. It’s a 12-digit code (something like 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E) that your device shares every time it connects to—or even searches for—a Wi-Fi network.

The problem is that this address never changes by default. That means anyone monitoring Wi-Fi traffic in a public space can log your MAC address and use it to:

• Track your physical movements across multiple locations over time
• Build a profile of your habits—which stores you visit, how long you stay, and how often you return
• Correlate your device with other data points to identify you personally

This isn’t hypothetical. According to WiGLE (Wireless Geographic Logging Engine), the world’s largest crowd-sourced wireless network database, over 1.9 billion Wi-Fi networks have been mapped globally, with more than 25 billion Wi-Fi observations logged—demonstrating just how extensively wireless signals are being cataloged and tracked across public spaces. How random hardware addresses protect you

Windows 10 and 11 include a feature called Random Hardware Addresses that generates a unique, randomized MAC address each time your device scans for or connects to a Wi-Fi network. Instead of broadcasting your real hardware fingerprint, your device presents a different identity every time—making it significantly harder for anyone to track you.

How to enable random hardware addresses on Windows 11

It takes less than a minute:

1. Open Settings (press Win + I)
2. Click Network & Internet
3. Click Wi-Fi
4. Toggle Random hardware addresses to On to enable it for all networks

To enable it for a specific network instead:

1. In the same Wi-Fi settings, click Manage known networks
2. Select the Wi-Fi network you want to protect
3. Under Random hardware addresses, choose On or Change daily

How to enable random hardware addresses on Windows 10

1. Open Settings
2. Click Network & Internet
3. Click Wi-Fi
4. Toggle Use random hardware addresses to On
5. For individual networks, click Manage known networks, select a network, and enable the setting there

A few things to keep in mind

Random hardware addresses work great for public Wi-Fi, but there are some situations where you may want to leave the feature off:

• Home and office networks that reserve IP addresses based on your MAC address
• Captive portals (like hotel or airport login pages) that authenticate devices by MAC address
• Corporate networks where IT administrators manage device access through MAC filtering
• Software licenses tied to your device’s physical MAC address

For everyday use on public networks, though, turning this feature on is a no-brainer.

Your Windows device doesn’t have to leave a trail of digital breadcrumbs everywhere you go. Enabling random hardware addresses takes just a few clicks and gives you a powerful layer of privacy against Wi-Fi-based surveillance. Turn it on for public networks, keep your real MAC address private, and take back control of your digital footprint.

TikTok makes it incredibly easy for people to find you on the platform—maybe a little too easy. If you’re over 16, TikTok automatically turns on a feature called “Suggest your account to others,” which means your profile can be recommended to people based on your phone contacts, Facebook friends, and shared link activity. If you’d rather control who discovers you, here’s how to turn it off.

What does “Suggest your account to others” actually do?

When this setting is enabled, TikTok actively recommends your profile to other users. The platform uses several signals to make these suggestions, including:

• Your synced phone contacts. If someone in your contacts joins TikTok (or already uses it), your account may pop up as a suggestion for them.
• Facebook friends. If you’ve linked your Facebook account, TikTok cross-references your friends list and suggests your profile to mutual connections.
• Shared links. People who have opened or sent TikTok links to you—or received links from you—may see your account as a suggestion.
• Mutual connections. TikTok also factors in accounts you both follow or interact with to surface recommendations.

For users under 16, TikTok disables this feature by default. But if you’re 16 or older, it’s switched on automatically—and many people have no idea it’s there.

Why you should consider turning it off

With nearly 2 billion users reachable on TikTok’s platform as of early 2026, discoverability cuts both ways. Sure, it’s great if you’re a creator building an audience. But for everyday users, having your account suggested to coworkers, distant relatives, ex-partners, or complete strangers can feel like an invasion of privacy.

Turning off this setting gives you more control over who finds your profile and helps you maintain boundaries between your personal life and your online activity.

How to turn off “Suggest your account to others” on TikTok

The process takes less than a minute:

1. Open the TikTok app and tap your Profile icon in the bottom right corner.
2. Tap the three-line menu (☰) in the top right corner.
3. Select Settings and Privacy.
4. Tap Privacy.
5. Tap Suggest your account to others.
6. Turn off the toggles for Contacts, Facebook friends, and People who open or send links to you.

That’s it—TikTok will stop recommending your profile to others based on those connections.

Take it a step further: disable contact and Facebook syncing

Even after turning off the suggestion setting, TikTok may still hold previously synced data. To fully clean the slate:

• Go to Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Sync contacts and Facebook friends.
• Turn off Sync contacts and Sync Facebook friends.
• Tap Remove previously synced contacts to delete any stored contact data from TikTok’s servers.

This ensures TikTok can’t use your address book or social connections to make future suggestions—even if you re-enable the feature later.

Other TikTok privacy settings worth checking

While you’re in your privacy settings, take a few extra minutes to tighten things up:

• Set your account to Private if you only want approved followers to see your content.
• Turn off Activity Status so others can’t see when you’re online.
• Disable Profile Views and Post Views to browse anonymously without alerting other users.
• Enable two-factor authentication under Security & Permissions for an extra layer of account protection.
• Review third-party app access and revoke permissions for any apps you no longer use.

TikTok’s “Suggest your account to others” feature is designed to help people connect—but not everyone wants to be found. If you value your privacy, take 60 seconds to turn off this setting and disable contact syncing. It’s a small change that gives you much bigger control over who discovers your profile and how.

If you’re looking for an easy way to improve your everyday security, your Apple Watch can do more than track steps—it can help protect your Mac.

Let’s break down how this feature works, why it matters, and how to use it as part of a smarter cybersecurity routine.

What does unlocking your Mac with Apple Watch do?

Apple’s Auto Unlock feature lets you log into your Mac automatically when your Apple Watch is:

• On your wrist
• Unlocked and authenticated
• Close to your Mac

Instead of typing a password, your watch securely verifies your identity in the background.

This not only saves time—it also reduces risky habits like reusing weak passwords or disabling login security altogether.

Why this feature is more than just convenience

Many users think Macs are inherently safe, but that’s no longer true at scale. In fact, 66% of Mac users reported encountering a cyber threat in the past year, according to a 2025 macOS threat report.

That means basic protections—like strong authentication—matter more than ever.

Using your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac adds a layer of protection because:

• It relies on proximity-based authentication
• It reduces password exposure (no typing in public)
• It requires secure Apple ID settings behind the scenes

How does Auto Unlock improve your overall security?

It enforces two-factor authentication (2FA)

To enable Apple Watch unlock, Apple requires:

• Two-factor authentication on your Apple ID
• A passcode on your watch
• Secure device pairing

This is a big deal. Accounts protected by 2FA are up to 99% less likely to be compromised, based on industry analysis from WorldMetrics.

It minimizes human error

Most cyber incidents come down to user behavior:

• Weak passwords
• Password reuse
• Shoulder surfing in public spaces

Auto Unlock removes these risks from your daily workflow.

It strengthens your device ecosystem

Apple’s security model works best when devices cooperate. Using Apple Watch unlock means:

• Your identity is verified across trusted devices
• Your login process is harder to intercept
• You reduce reliance on a single password

How to enable unlock with Apple Watch

Follow these steps on your Mac:

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences)
2. Go to Touch ID & Password (or Security & Privacy)
3. Turn on “Use Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac”
4. Enter your Mac password to confirm

Make sure:

• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled
• Your watch is signed into the same Apple ID
• Your devices are up to date

When should you use this feature?

This feature is especially useful if you:

• Work in shared or public environments
• Unlock your Mac frequently throughout the day
• Want stronger security without extra friction

It’s a perfect example of “low effort, high impact” cybersecurity.

Smart habits to pair with this feature

To maximize protection, combine Apple Watch unlock with:

• ✅ A strong, unique Mac password
• ✅ Automatic macOS updates
• ✅ FileVault disk encryption
• ✅ A password manager
• ✅ Awareness of phishing attacks

Cybersecurity doesn’t always require complex tools. Sometimes, it’s about using the features you already have—correctly.

Unlocking your Mac with your Apple Watch gives you:

• Faster access
• Less password exposure
• Built-in two-factor authentication

That’s a win for both convenience and security.