iOS 15.4 Beta 4 Includes AirTags Anti-Stalking Changes

[mjtomlin71]

The controversy over AirTags led me to look more closely at Apple's description of how the Find My network operates. I've become more concerned about what location and device information Apple is collecting and aggregating than the ability to more finely manage AirTags.

Having said that, any increase in the ability to reveal potentially hostile AirTags is good.

Then you should probably continue to look even closer because Apple explains the system in detail.

The data that's transmitted is extremely minimal (location and item ID) and its anonymized and encoded. Nothing about the "relay" device is transmitted. Nothing extraneous is "collected" or "aggregated". That data is then stored in a database on Apple's servers so that it can be looked up when the owner uses "Find My". Furthermore, the system does not make its own connection to Apple's servers, it piggybacks on connections made by other operating system services so as to never over burden people's devices.

 

[mjtomlin71]

Exactly what I was thinking. If I put this on my bag or suitcase which is stolen all the thief needs to do is look for an AirTag nearby and disable it. Kinda defeats the purpose of having it in the first place.

Nope. According to Apple the intended purpose of AirTags is to help you find lost items, not to track stolen items. Using something in a manner that it was not intended for will almost always be less useful than you might like.

 

[Robert.Walter]

This is a really tricky issue to solve. It honestly never occurred to me that they'd be used for nefarious purposes before they'd released it. I just wanted to find my keys/dog/wallet/car in a parking lot.

It's super useful for the few things I use it for, but this criminal element.... It may just not be worth Apple's effort. Perhaps they put a button on the next AirTags that let's it speak the name of the device it's paired to (so the tracked person can at least provide proof to an authority it was their crazy ex-boyfriend or whatever)... I dunno.

The cops can do this through the device ID because it’s paired to the tag’s owner’s Apple ID.

If the owner has opened up a bogus Apple ID just to do tracking, they can be tracked down through the IP Address that accounts devices used to access their Apple ID.

 

[Robert.Walter]

Yeah this is a real pain. The ability for two apple IDs (or more) to track the same AirTag would be so much better.

If our dog gets out when I’m not there my partner has to call me and I can play the sound or see where she was last.

Fido can run but can’t hide. Play the tune and look for the dancing dog.

 

[Analog Kid]

Yeah this is a real pain. The ability for two apple IDs (or more) to track the same AirTag would be so much better.

If our dog gets out when I’m not there my partner has to call me and I can play the sound or see where she was last.

Not just pets, this is important for a lot of things worth tracking. I rarely lose my keys, but the key that’s used only a few times year to a storage shed? No telling who’ll need it next, or where the last person put it.

And I really don’t want to get into arguments about whose suitcase it is and who gets to track it…

 

[incoherent_1]

As well all know, nothing like finger wagging and sternly worded warning to dissuade psychotic criminals!

 

[incoherent_1]

Soon enough they will cripple it to be just another Tile...

I think that ship sailed long ago. I gave my AirTags away because they're all but useless now.

The irony of course is that anyone who wants to be a stalker could easily buy dedicated devices for doing just that for $30-50 on Amazon.

 

[44267547]

It should be auto-reported to the police if anyone tracks you without your consent.

‘Auto reported’ to the police? And what would the police do with that without a formal complaint from the victim?

If you think police resources are that widely available to deal with the amount of auto reporting from an AirTag, that’s not how it works.

 

[svish]

Good to hear changes are implemented quickly

 

[jimbobb24]

No Privacy: Cloning The AirTag

You’ve probably heard of the infamous rule 34, but we’d like to propose a new rule — call it rule 35: Anything that can be used for nefarious purposes will be, even if you can&#82…

hackaday.com

Sounds like none of this matters.

Rule 36 no matter what happens a few people on Twitter will complain and it will be reported as if it were millions.

 

[hydropsyche]

The Apple bluetooth spy mesh network is the biggest threat to privacy since the NSA and the telecom industry locked lips in the 60's. Oh well.

 

[Artemis70]

Nope. According to Apple the intended purpose of AirTags is to help you find lost items, not to track stolen items. Using something in a manner that it was not intended for will almost always be less useful than you might like.

The issue is the same with lost items as with stolen items. When I forget my bag, anyone can disable the AirTag, and I won't be able to find my bag. The ability for anyone to disable an AirTag renders the devices useless outside of your home.

 

[MacsRgr8]

Nope. According to Apple the intended purpose of AirTags is to help you find lost items, not to track stolen items. Using something in a manner that it was not intended for will almost always be less useful than you might like.

Apple should have stated clearly that the AirTags are not intended to help track stolen items.

People I know who have bought AirTags understand that they are meant to help track lost items, and all of them added the logical usage of tracking stolen items too.
Knowing that this is not the case, reduces the value of the AirTags hugely.

 

[MacFan23]

The issue is the same with lost items as with stolen items. When I forget my bag, anyone can disable the AirTag, and I won't be able to find my bag. The ability for anyone to disable an AirTag renders the devices useless outside of your home.

Equally, it means someone could find the AirTag and use it to contact you to help you get your bag back.

You’re more likely to get it back with an AirTag than without.

 

[drkrab]

I don’t understand why Apple does not add family sharing for AirTags. The lack thereof is probably cause of 99% of warnings (I use them for car keys) and this sort of dillutes the level of worry when you see a tracking notice.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

The newly released fourth beta of iOS 15.4 introduces the anti-stalking AirTag changes that Apple announced earlier this month, providing a setup warning that using an AirTag or another Find My-linked item to track someone without consent is a crime.

"You can locate this item using the Find My network," reads the setup screen. "Using this item to track people without their consent is a crime in many regions around the world. This item is designed to be detected by victims and to enable law enforcement to request identifying information about the owner."

With this warning, Apple wants to make it clear to those who would use AirTags and Find My-compatible devices from third-party companies as stalking tools that such a use case is illegal and has criminal repercussions. Apple earlier this month said that the warning would be added to an upcoming update.

Apple also said that it would address a bug that was causing confusion around unwanted tracking, a change that is also likely in the new beta. AirPods can cause an "Unknown Accessory Alert" warning that some people were interpreting as a notice from an AirTag. ‌AirTags‌ are not able to display the "Unknown Accessory Detected" messaging, which is caused by AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, third-generation AirPods, and in some cases, a Find My network accessory.

Going forward, Apple is making sure that all accessories properly identify themselves so there is no more confusion about non-AirTag devices.

We have confirmed the messaging changes are in the current iOS 15.4 beta, and Apple has also made some other minor tweaks as well. In the Find My app, there is no longer an option to toggle off "Item Safety Alerts," with Apple instead offering "Customize Find My Notifications" and "Customize Tracking Notifications" options.

At the current time, both of these options redirect to the Notifications options for the Find My app, and it's not clear if Apple will change that in the future with more granular settings to select from.

Later this year, Apple plans to introduce additional anti-stalking measures that include support for Precision Finding for unknown AirTags, display alerts that pop up whenever a sound is played, and louder AirTag sounds.

Article Link: iOS 15.4 Beta 4 Includes AirTags Anti-Stalking Changes

The biggest mystery of all is why can’t iOS user share tags?

Why do I need two tags on my keys, two on my bag, two on the car keys, two on the suitcase etc etc just so that I and my spouse can find the same things without asking the other to use their iPhone…

 

[cyanite]

The issue is the same with lost items as with stolen items. When I forget my bag, anyone can disable the AirTag, and I won't be able to find my bag. The ability for anyone to disable an AirTag renders the devices useless outside of your home.

They could also burn your bag, you know.

Apple should have stated clearly that the AirTags are not intended to help track stolen items.

I think they did?

 

[MikeSweden]

All these changes are making the product useless. It's not the AirTag that is the problem. The problem is the people using it wrong and illegally. Even if Airtag is made useless for stalking. The bad guys are going to find another way to do it.

So stop messing with the airtag and start messing with the bad guys instead.

We don't put a limit on a cars speed just because people are driving to fast or might use it to get away after committing a crime.

 

[sockdoggy]

What a train wreck of post-release updates for something that’s not a new idea / concept!

 

[JosephAW]

This product will be discontinued like many of Apple‘s misses.

 

[macguru212]

Still waiting for allowed sharing of an AirTag.

I need to have two in everything now - one registered to me and one registered to my wife because we can't bloody share ONE. So after this new update will we be harassed by 'stalking' messages because we both have Air Tags in the same car/whatever but are different users?

 

[macguru212]

The biggest mystery of all is why can’t iOS user share tags?

Why do I need two tags on my keys, two on my bag, two on the car keys, two on the suitcase etc etc just so that I and my spouse can find the same things without asking the other to use their iPhone…

More AirTag sales. I had to buy double the tags because I can't share, so Apple's business model works. I don't like it one bit...

 

[DominikHoffmann]

On the topic of hardware changes... I wish there was a much flatter profile of AirTag, so I could track my wallet. Even if that means it becomes disposable due to the type of battery it has to have, I'm good with that.

Check out the Chipolo CARD Spot. Make sure it’s the black and not the white one. I have one on pre-order. It looks like it is basically the same form factor as a credit card, but just a little thicker.

 

[DominikHoffmann]

Yeah this is a real pain. The ability for two apple IDs (or more) to track the same AirTag would be so much better.

If our dog gets out when I’m not there my partner has to call me and I can play the sound or see where she was last.

<sarcasm>Apple has told pet lovers not to use AirTags to track their four-legged friends.</sarcasm>

 

[Sophisticatednut]

All these changes are making the product useless. It's not the AirTag that is the problem. The problem is the people using it wrong and illegally. Even if Airtag is made useless for stalking. The bad guys are going to find another way to do it.

So stop messing with the airtag and start messing with the bad guys instead.

We don't put a limit on a cars speed just because people are driving to fast or might use it to get away after committing a crime.

Essentially your holding it wrong. It’s such a brain dead thought that when I use my spouses car keys I get a stalking alert making everyone ignore it.