How to Disable COVID-19 Exposure Notifications in iOS 13.5

[nicolas17]

We'd better get out of lockdown before a vaccine is available, or we'll loose a LOT more people than Covid-19 could ever be responsible for. But, we don't need this to get out of lockdown! The concept that we do IS the problem!

Something is fundamentally wrong with the country's support structures if the lockdown is more dangerous/deadly than the virus.

 

[SteveW928]

Something is fundamentally wrong with the country's support structures if the lockdown is more dangerous/deadly than the virus.

Yes, things have been fundamentally wrong for a long time... just getting way worse more rapidly recently. And, this isn't just the USA, but worldwide implications. For all we know, we could already have more deaths due to the lockdown than the virus... we aren't counting those.

 

[cmaier]

Something is fundamentally wrong with the country's support structures if the lockdown is more dangerous/deadly than the virus.

good thing it’s not
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Yes, things have been fundamentally wrong for a long time... just getting way worse more rapidly recently. And, this isn't just the USA, but worldwide implications. For all we know, we could already have more deaths due to the lockdown than the virus... we aren't counting those.

for all we know this is written by a space alien.

But it’s not.

 

[nicolas17]

BTW, have you checked what it does if no BLE devices (watch, Airpods, etc.) are paired to the phone?

At first my watch was only sending Handoff packets when the screen turned on or when I switched apps. When I updated the OS on my Mac, the watch started constantly sending broadcasts (of other types), even if the Mac is off. I think in this case it's to let the Mac know it's near in order to use Auto Unlock. As a test, I logged out of my iCloud on the Mac, and the watch instantly stopped transmitting that.

I haven't tried unpairing things from my phone yet, no. Also this is just broadcast messages. I'm sure there's more stuff going on in encrypted Bluetooth connections, but I'd need sniffer hardware to see that.

 

[terrywfoster]

Glad to have the info so I can turn this mess off!

 

[loll]

so if you have one of the tracing apps installed , but have this notification turned off, does it prevent the apps from transmitting , or does it only prevent you from being notified and the app is still transmitting?

 

[V_Man]

Good.

I’ve spent ten years figuring out how to recover my health from this pseudo medical system, after being floxxed with ciprofloxacin from a misdiagnosis that was essentially medical malpractice, and sundry other issues.

Unless I break a bone, Western medicine will never touch my body again, vaccines included. Your judgment holds no weight over the privacy and rights of my body.

What about a heart attack? What’s the plan for that. Stroke?

 

[SteveW928]

so if you have one of the tracing apps installed , but have this notification turned off, does it prevent the apps from transmitting , or does it only prevent you from being notified and the app is still transmitting?

After reading a couple articles on it from different sources, I'm not quite clear on this. I think it is the latter, you just don't get notified. The participation - if I'm understanding correctly - is happening at some low level even if you have Bluetooth turned off, etc. I'm not sure if that means the 'semi-off' state, or if you really turn it off.

 

[Tokenfreak]

I don't see a toggle button on mine. All I see is COVID-19 Exposure Logging

 

[Waterndirt]

Wait, they're putting this into the OS itself rather than as an app you have to choose to download?

AND they're making it opt-in by default?

**** that nonsense.

it's not opt-in by default and you have to download a third party app to do the tracing.

 

[compwiz1202]

Hold up why are the instructions on how to turn off? Is it not opt-in for the beta?

Yea last I checked it was off. And you can't even turn it on without the corresponding app.
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I suspect they'll have a wizard like when you choose to send them analytics or not. Regardless, I can seen this causing a lot of panic when everyones phone goes off telling them they have been near someone infected. Or worse, a false sense of security when they have been near dozens of people with a old smartphone, feature phone, or no phone at all.

Or people not using it.
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Nobody is pointing out the very real possibility that individuals are going to say they have a positive test result when they haven’t even been tested. Some will do this because they simply want to freak out other people or be a nuisance. Others will do so because of their political agenda, because they wish for the lockdown to be extended. The whole process is based on the honor system. This will not work as intended.

Thought you need some code from a medical profession; although, I wouldn't put it past people to hack that too.

 

[SteveW928]

The last articles I read on it (unless something has changed since then)...
You're opt-ing in to notification, not participation.
The apps are those that USE the info collected in various ways.

If that is wrong, and this depends on people opt-ing in and/or running some app, it is a failure from the get go.

 

[compwiz1202]

The one thing I wonder is with such sparse testing still, will an exposure notification be enough to get you a test, or will they still be "You have no symptoms GTFO!"?

 

[nicolas17]

The last articles I read on it (unless something has changed since then)...
You're opt-ing in to notification, not participation.
The apps are those that USE the info collected in various ways.

If that is wrong, and this depends on people opt-ing in and/or running some app, it is a failure from the get go.

You need to install your country's app, the app needs to request the sending and receiving of these bluetooth messages, you will be asked to approve that request.

 

[compwiz1202]

My question is, how does your phone know you have been infected in the first place? Is it up to the individual user to enable something on the phone?

Yes I've read if you test positive, they give you a code to enter into the app.

 

[SteveW928]

You need to install your country's app, the app needs to request the sending and receiving of these bluetooth messages, you will be asked to approve that request.

Thanks. I hope you're right.

The articles I had read talked like the BT based detection and sending of the anonymized data was at the OS level and happened for everyone (who updates to that version of OS). Then, various authorized entities could produce apps which could access that data via API.

 

[Rigby]

The one thing I wonder is with such sparse testing still, will an exposure notification be enough to get you a test, or will they still be "You have no symptoms GTFO!"?

Yep, the efficacy of contact tracing (not just the phone-based method) hinges on good availability of testing. That's why countries like South Korea or Germany did so much better than the US right from the start. Hopefully by the time the apps are ready the situation here will be better too.
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Thanks. I hope you're right.

The articles I had read talked like the BT based detection and sending of the anonymized data was at the OS level and happened for everyone (who updates to that version of OS). Then, various authorized entities could produce apps which could access that data via API.

FWIW, I just did a quick check with a Bluetooth monitoring app and my just updated phone does not emit a contact tracing beacon. So it appears off really means off. As was already mentioned, you can't even activate it without having an app installed (which is kind of a shame, because I was hoping to be able to analyze the beacon a bit).

 

[russell_314]

Okay now that iOS 13.5 is out how do people find out if their state has an app?

What states have apps and is there a website that lists this?

 

[nicolas17]

The articles I had read talked like the BT based detection and sending of the anonymized data was at the OS level and happened for everyone (who updates to that version of OS). Then, various authorized entities could produce apps which could access that data via API.

Apple is thinking of maybe doing that in a few months. That's definitely not how it works now.

I think saying iOS 13.5 added contact tracing is a bit like saying watchOS 6 added smart alarms with sleep tracking; it didn't, it just added new APIs that let others implement that in their apps, which previously needed awkward hacks inconvenient to the user.

It's hard to come up with a good analogy because it seems most new API frameworks are actually used by Apple in stock apps

 

[chucker23n1]

I think the confusion comes from an earlier beta, where the toggle seemed to default to on. I no longer get the screen depicted in the original article. Instead, I can't even turn the toggle on at all, because I don't have such an app.

 

[russell_314]

I think the confusion comes from an earlier beta, where the toggle seemed to default to on. I no longer get the screen depicted in the original article. Instead, I can't even turn the toggle on at all, because I don't have such an app.

That's probably because they wanted to test it without the apps but now it's for real world use no point in having it on without the app installed.

 

[FrankieTDouglas]

it's not opt-in by default and you have to download a third party app to do the tracing.

Was the beta running as opt-in by default?

Regardless, I've turned off auto updates for iOS for now. Feel free to be a live beta tester of Apple-supplied spyware that leverages your health to the public. So much for Apple's privacy mission.

 

[chucker23n1]

Was the beta running as opt-in by default?

An earlier beta seemed to default to it being on. (Which would mean "opt-out".)

The current version instead can't be turned on at all unless you have a suitable app installed.

Regardless, I've turned off auto updates for iOS for now. Feel free to be a live beta tester of Apple-supplied spyware that leverages your health to the public. So much for Apple's privacy mission.

What data do you believe this leaks?

 

[russell_314]

Was the beta running as opt-in by default?

Regardless, I've turned off auto updates for iOS for now. Feel free to be a live beta tester of Apple-supplied spyware that leverages your health to the public. So much for Apple's privacy mission.

You're silly for turning off updates because it also includes security patches. The public release of iOS 13.5 is opt out by default and only works if you install the specific app for your area and opt in. You have to choose to download the app then opt in to the permission so it goes along well with Apple's privacy mission.

Now if you want to be paranoid the government can track you without any app or permission with your cell phone. My point is unless you're super paranoid thinking it's really tracking you when it says it's not then you're fine and if you are that paranoid then don't carry a cell phone without the battery removed.

 

[SteveW928]

What data do you believe this leaks?

Now if you want to be paranoid the government can track you without any app or permission with your cell phone. My point is unless you're super paranoid thinking it's really tracking you when it says it's not then you're fine and if you are that paranoid then don't carry a cell phone without the battery removed.

Yeah, both these points!

I don't like the precedent this sets, and it could certainly be used for bad things down the road. (For example, maybe knowing when people come into contact with one another is great for pandemics, but not so great 'underground' meetings of a persecuted group.)

But, as pointed out, if it is the government you fear (quite reasonably, IMO), you're already in deep dodo by just having a cell phone. Your rough location is constantly being tracked, and I'm sure your friendly telco would be more than happy to turn that info over to the gov't along with your call records and such.

This is a bit better data, I suppose, especially if combined. But, there are bigger concerns already commonplace.

Oh, and I should probably point out that my issue with it is more that by the time they get it working, the need for it will be mostly gone. And, even if it does work well (and assuming it is needed), I don't think this things was really on a scale to warrant such efforts anyway. It's like throwing a bucket of water on a burning building and being all happy with yourself.