AirTag Anti-Stalking Measures 'Just Aren't Sufficient' Says Washington Post Report

[dcp10]

First thing Apple should do is put a setting in iOS which gives iPhone users a choice of how soon the alert for unknown Airtags is triggered.

The Android problem is harder, perhaps an app which mimics the Find My Network , but at a very short range?

 

[sirozha]

It’s true that an Android phone can’t alert its owner of an Airtag moving alongside the phone. However, an Airtag can’t be tracked by an Android phone either. So, an Android phone user cannot be stalked by an Airtag.

As for the stalking of a domestic partner by an abusive partner, give me a break. If you are living together, then you choose to be with that person. AirTag tracking is the least one should be concerned about if one is in an abusives relationship. I’m sure the abuse didn’t start with AirTag stalking. The abuse started a long time ago, and Apple had nothing to do with it.

 

[itsmeaustend]

So Apple is being blamed because Android doesn’t include stalking notifications? Huh. They just can’t do anything right.

 

[crazy dave]

You are wrong. If you want to stalk someone with a tile, the victim would have to install the tile app and allow it to run in the background. With air tags, tracking is built in to the OS and can’t be disabled.

That’s not how any of this works. The greatest concern is with people who *aren’t* on the network, Tile or Find My, unknowingly being tracked using a tag from either company. As the article states Apple’s solution is superior but still could be used by an abusive partner.

 

[dcp10]

It’s true that an Android phone can’t alert its owner of an Airtag moving alongside the phone. However, and Airtag can’t be tracked by an Android phone either. So, an Android phone user cannot be stalked by an Airtag.

The stalker has an iPhone in the scenario.

 

[crazy dave]

The point is it is opt-out, so even if a victim disables it, every iPhone around them will still participate in stalking. Just like a U2 album, Apple has essentially pushed the Tile app onto every iOS device.

That’s not how it works. Turning on Find My doesn’t allow someone else to track you. Having a tag on you allows someone else to track you and the greatest danger is from when you aren’t part of the network so it can’t warn you. Tile is *worse* because of this.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

This whole situation sucks.

As it is, the Airtags's existing anti-stalking features make them decidedly less useful if you share an object with a family member, or if an object is stolen (the latter is a valid subset of reasons why an item might be lost).

But if you're at risk of being stalked, they're also probably not enough. Especially if the victim doesn't have an iPhone.

I don't know what the solution is. I'm tempted to say that Apple shouldn't be making their product worse for actual customers—after all, if you really wanted to follow someone, you'd probably want to invest in a proper GPS tracker—but I'm sure I'd feel differently if someone was stalking me.

 

[crazy dave]

Technology can be used for bad things by people with malicious intent? Oh, the horror!!!! In other news water is wet.

Attempting to mitigate the societal harms of technology *should* be a goal of technology companies. Otherwise we get cancerous social media companies. Too late.

Whether Apple has gone far enough will be determined by practical realities, however they have gone further than other companies. More adjustments may need to be made. Or not.

 

[randyhudson]

That’s not how any of this works. The greatest concern is with people who *aren’t* on the network, Tile or Find My, unknowingly being tracked using a tag from either company. As the article states Apple’s solution is superior but still could be used by an abusive partner.

Very few iPhones are participating in Tile’s network tracking. I have 4 tiles, and I have location and run in background disabled for the App. Most iOS devices don’t even have the app installed. What Apple have done is equivalent to pushing the Tile app onto every iOS device, and automatically enabling it to run in background and access your location.

They have taken your choice to “Find my iPhone”, and just assumed you also want to find everyone else’s crap, without even asking you.

 

[TheMacDaddy1]

Consider the source. Anyone can track anyone with lots of other options. Just go to alibaba and start shopping for go’s tracking devices. It really cheap as well.

 

[DesignTime]

And everyone with an iPhone is helping the stalkers stalk. I want a refund for my phone being used to track other people’s lost items.

 

[dcp10]

The point is it is opt-out, so even if a victim disables it, every iPhone around them will still participate in stalking. Just like a U2 album, Apple has essentially pushed the Tile app onto every iOS device.

Yup absolutely correct. Forgot which thread I was arguing in fie a sec

 

[sirozha]

The stalker has an iPhone in the scenario.

The stalkee doesn’t have an iPhone in this scenario. How will the Airtag location be reported to the stalker?

 

[crazy dave]

Very few iPhones are participating in Tile’s network tracking. I have 4 tiles, and I have location and run in background disabled for the App. Most iOS devices don’t even have the app installed. What Apple have done is equivalent to pushing the Tile app onto every iOS device, and automatically enabling it to run in background and access your location.

They have taken your choice to “Find my iPhone”, and just assumed you also want to find everyone else’s crap, without even asking you.

That’s almost completely irrelevant to the issue at hand. But if you want to have that discussion then you’re given the choice at setup to participate. And if the Tile tracking software is just worse at tracking everything that’s not exactly a point in favor of Tile.

 

[Robert.Walter]

I think the risk here is that someone can like wrap it in tape or something to muffle the sound enough that someone wouldn't hear it.

I’m thinking a blob of silicone rtv in the internal cylindrical void under the battery might prevent vibration necessary to be audible.

there’s also destroying the element that makes the vibration. Hopefully apple anticipated this and if that happens the device self diagnoses it and disables itself.

 

[randyhudson]

The stalkee doesn’t have an iPhone in this scenario. How will the Airtag location be reported to the stalker?

Because Apple decided to opt-in every iOS device to track everything by default, without warning users of the risk.

 

[Robert.Walter]

The stalkee doesn’t have an iPhone in this scenario. How will the Airtag location be reported to the stalker?

Via one of the billion iPhones in the hands of a 3rd party.

 

[crazy dave]

The stalkee doesn’t have an iPhone in this scenario. How will the Airtag location be reported to the stalker?

The Find my network uses every iPhone participating need the network.

 

[sirozha]

And everyone with an iPhone is helping the stalkers stalk. I want a refund for my phone being used to track other people’s lost items.

You can always sell your iPhone on eBay and buy an Android.

 

[Sasparilla]

It would be almost impossible to make a tracking device that actually does what the Post's reporter would apparently want.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Because Apple decided to opt-in every iOS device to track everything by default, without warning users of the risk.

there is no risk for the 3rd party holder of any opted in iPhone.

 

[randyhudson]

That’s almost completely irrelevant to the issue at hand. But if you want to have that discussion then you’re given the choice at setup to participate. And if the Tile tracking software is just worse at tracking everything that’s not exactly a point in favor of Tile.

When I installed the iOS update, there was no choice to participate. It was silently enabled.

 

[crazy dave]

When I installed the iOS update, there was no choice to participate. It was silently enabled.

How long do you think the Find my network has been a thing? It's been active for two years ... if you're saying Apple silently turned it back on after you had turned it off, that is indeed bad.

 

[innovationwho]

WaPo… the worst journalistic integrity in recent years. Why is MacRumors even giving them air time.

Money. Money. Money. Money. That’s the simple answer.

 

[vipergts2207]

It’s easy to muffle while pressing the top! (Um, who is pressing the top to muffle the sound while this attempted stalking is happening. I am very confused)

All it would take is wrapping it in some duct tape. That said, I think stalking concerns are overblown.