They've helped me find my keys—and prevented me from leaving them somewhere—many times already, which is exactly what they were made to do. And Apple had anti-tracking measures available from Day One, so not sure how they weren't "well thought out."
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Apple Announces AirTag Updates to Address Unwanted Tracking
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They've helped me find my keys—and prevented me from leaving them somewhere—many times already, which is exactly what they were made to do. And Apple had anti-tracking measures available from Day One, so not sure how they weren't "well thought out."
Yup, and it'll even be easier for the thief to locate where you hid the airtag and destroy it.
Yeah, and Tesla, just because they spent all the money building the network it still should be available to everyone. And people who don't even own a smart phone, they should be given dongles paid for by Apple that allow them to know if someone is tracking them too.
Hm sort of defeats the reasons to get buy the airtags unless it is just for finding misplaces keys inside your own house.
I don't know how effective telling criminals "this is a crime, don't do it" will be
This is actually something that is keeping me from using them. If I take a different car and leave one set of keys at home... will they beep all day? If I put them in my luggage - will they beep the entire time they are in transit? If it's in my wife's purse... will it beep while she's gone to the restroom in a restaurant?
I don't think Apple has marketed these for recovering stolen items, just for finding what you've misplaced (edit: and a hope that any finder will be honest about returning the lost item)
Using an airtag to locate stolen property without alerting the thief is pretty much exactly how a stalker would use an airtag.
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Sweet, now when I'm on the train and I get an alert that someone else on the train has an AirTag, I'll be able to precisely located the item they have which is valuable enough they put an AirTag on it. So I can take it.
Apple is not transparent about anything, it just doesn’t like bad press and is trying to look good.
Yeah my thinking exactly. Basically to protect valuables the best thing to do is to NOT use an AirTag.
Yeah basically apple made their product almost useless
I think it's kinda cool, that Apple was the first one to bring a (Bluetooth)-tracker on the market.
It might deter the opportunistic thief though. Someone getting the AirTags to stalk someone won't care, but someone may remember that "hey, Apple is actively working with the cops to catch people doing this, maybe I shouldn't put this in the hot girl's purse at the bar after all".
People got really worked up about AirTags and it’s only because Apple released them. No one is talking about the fact Tile has been around for years and you could track things or even Samsungs tags. Apple is making changes for the better but I am very happy with my AirTags.
If you want to use an Airtag to track an object in someone else's possession without them being aware of that tracking, then these measures will lessen the usefulness of an Airtag for that goal.
'cuz while you might want to do that to track your stolen bicycle, the same functionality also enables a stalker to track his/her victim.
All the privacy changes are good and I definitely do not want to be tracked against my will. However, I have 2 of these which I primarily bought for my backpack and luggage. These updates also make my use case useless. If someone manages to steal my backpack while I am away for a bit, the AT will just beep or notify them and they can then ditch it.
If I put it in luggage, it will create a nuisance with alerts to baggage handlers/beeping etc. and someone might be tempted to just try and get at it and throw it away or steal it.
How about Apple also work with law enforcement to ensure people who steal ATs are found and prosecuted?
Otherwise, it's just open season on ATs and I guess I will try and use mine till I have them stolen.
I also understand that they aren't meant for tracking stolen things, but actually "lost" things - but to be honest, I can't say I have ever been in a position where I have lost something without it also being at risk of being stolen.
If I put it in luggage, it will create a nuisance with alerts to baggage handlers/beeping etc. and someone might be tempted to just try and get at it and throw it away or steal it.
How about Apple also work with law enforcement to ensure people who steal ATs are found and prosecuted?
Otherwise, it's just open season on ATs and I guess I will try and use mine till I have them stolen.
I also understand that they aren't meant for tracking stolen things, but actually "lost" things - but to be honest, I can't say I have ever been in a position where I have lost something without it also being at risk of being stolen.
Reading through the previous 44 posts or so and have come to terms with this is why we can't have nice stuff. Some idiot will always come along and screw it up for the rest of us.
(Honestly I was thinking this but with a lot more colorful words that would get the post censored or removed.)
(Honestly I was thinking this but with a lot more colorful words that would get the post censored or removed.)
While this update will address your concern by displaying an alert, I think a better solution is to block tampered AirTags from using Find My Network altogether.
I can tell you that the police hardly care about burglaries and car thefts in my area. The chances they take up an airpods stalking case: slim and none.
All fine and dandy. When do we get the option to opt-out of this network?
I understand what you mean I just think it would be a good move by Apple to open it up, just like Tesla is trying to open up their Superchargers to other EV brands. They aren't entitled to, but it would be nice of them. A benefit would be that the network expands with more coverage once Android phones are on board.
But then again AirTags are perfect for keeping people locked into the ecosystem. If you own a few you'll be unlikely to switch to an Android phone. So they probably played the correct business move.
Is it a crime to track others?
Does this fall under stalking?
In any country?
It’s a crime when you track your kids?
They better check out with international lawyers before calling tracking a crime… this could backfire.