Re: Tutorial: Query the Apple database with Python for your access point BSSID

Char,

>>> but a duplicate MAC appearing somewhere else shouldn't
>>> cause any problems.
>>
>> As long as it would not be a duplicate there, you would be
>> correct. :-)
>
> I was thinking that the chance of that kind of collision would
> be exceedingly low, but statistics were never my strength.

Mine neither, and that is why I saved a copy of the explanation to the 
"birthday paradox" : The chance that in a rather small group of people two 
would have the same birthday.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-probability-birthday-paradox/

It turns out that that chance is above 50% for a group of just 23 people. 
Which is, to me, remarkable.


Ofcourse, the range of possible "birthdays" for BSSIDs is a "bit" 
(understatement)larger* (but would it be if we would have started with your 
idea ?  I don't think so), but as the BSSID is moving around the "group" 
becomes much larger too.

* If we choose our BSSIDs ourselves, the actual range drops dramatically. 
Take passwords as an example.   Most of us have to be forced not to use our 
own name or birthdate. :-)

Bottom line, those clashes would probably be much more likely than you 
think.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser