How to Enable Private Wi-Fi Address on macOS Sequoia 15.2

Excerpt from this link

Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points

" About Wi-Fi privacy and security warnings

If your Apple device shows a privacy warning or weak-security warning about a Wi-Fi network, that network could expose information about your device.

For example, you might see a warning that your device’s private Wi-Fi address is turned off for a network. For any such warning, if you administer the Wi-Fi network, we recommend that you update the settings of your Wi-Fi router to meet or exceed the security standards in this article. If you don't administer the Wi-Fi network, bring these settings to the attention of the network administrator. "

Hello, ie420!

The "Privacy Warning" message you're seeing is related to the Private Wi-Fi Address feature, which helps enhance your privacy by preventing your device from being tracked by its MAC address on the Wi-Fi network. It’s a privacy feature Apple introduced to keep your network activity more secure.

Here’s how you can enable the Private Wi-Fi Address feature on your MacBook Pro running macOS Sequoia 15.2:

1. Open System Settings: Click on the Apple logo in the top left corner and select System Settings.
2. Go to Wi-Fi Settings: In the left sidebar, click on Wi-Fi.
3. Select Your Network: Find the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to and click the i (information) icon next to it.
4. Enable Private Wi-Fi Address: You should see an option labeled Private Wi-Fi Address. Toggle it on. This should eliminate the "Privacy Warning" message, as your Mac will now use a random MAC address for each network, which makes it harder for trackers to follow your device.

If you've already got Private Wi-Fi Address enabled and you're still seeing the warning, there could be an issue with the network settings or a bug, but enabling it should be your first step.

Should you be concerned?

Not really. The warning is just informing you that your device is using a default MAC address, which is not as privacy-friendly as using a random one. It's a good sign that Apple is letting you know about potential privacy issues, but it's easily solvable with the steps above.

Let me know if you need further help!

From that same link

Security

Set to WPA3 Personal for better security, or set to WPA2/WPA3 Transitional for compatibility with older devices.

The security setting defines the type of authentication and encryption used by your router, and the level of privacy protection for data transmitted over its network. Whichever setting you choose, always set a strong password for joining the network.

• WPA3 Personal is the newest, most secure protocol currently available for Wi-Fi devices. It works with all devices that support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and some older devices. 
• WPA2/WPA3 Transitional is a mixed mode that uses WPA3 Personal with devices that support that protocol, while allowing older devices to use WPA2 Personal (AES) instead.
• WPA2 Personal (AES) is appropriate when you can't use one of the more secure modes. In that case, also choose AES as the encryption or cipher type, if available.

Weak security settings to avoid on your router

Don't create or join networks that use older, deprecated security protocols. They're no longer secure, they reduce network reliability and performance, and they cause your device to show a security warning:

• WPA/WPA2 mixed modes
• WPA Personal
• WEP, including WEP Open, WEP Shared, WEP Transitional Security Network, or Dynamic WEP (WEP with 802.1X)
• TKIP, including any security setting with TKIP in the name

Settings that turn off security, such as None, Open, or Unsecured, are also strongly discouraged. Turning off security disables authentication and encryption and allows anyone to join your network, access its shared resources (including printers, computers, and smart devices), use your internet connection, and monitor the websites you visit and other data transmitted over your network or internet connection. This is a risk even if security is turned off temporarily or for a guest network.