Wi-Fi probe request
Definition
A broadcast management frame that a Wi-Fi radio sends when scanning for known networks. The frame advertises the SSIDs stored in the device's preferred network list. Nearby access points or passive sniffers can log these frames with timestamps, providing evidence of physical proximity.
Related terms
- Cell Site Location Information (CSLI)
- Records held by a mobile network operator showing which cell towers a device registered with and when. Historical CSLI covers past registrations....
- Geofencing artifact
- A record generated when a device enters or exits a defined geographic boundary. Fitness apps, delivery apps, and smart-home apps create these...
- GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System)
- The family of satellite-based positioning systems including US GPS, Russian GLONASS, European Galileo, and Chinese BeiDou. Mobile chipsets typically support multiple constellations...
- Significant Locations
- An iOS feature that records frequently visited places using a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi, and cell data. Stored in an encrypted SQLite...
- Tower dump
- A legal demand directed to a mobile network operator for records of all devices that registered with one or more specific cell...
Explained in
- Location History and Geolocation ArtifactsA broadcast management frame that a Wi-Fi radio sends when scanning for known networks. The frame advertises the SSIDs stored in the device's preferred network...