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Apple Introduces AirTag

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Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#561

Post by sneak »

oop wrote: post #547
axiosgunnar wrote: post #540

Wait, do I understand correctly that my phone is being abused as part of a global botnet for Apple? How do I disable my iPhone being using to relay data?

It's a stretch to say anonymized reporting of nearby lost devices is abuse and part of a botnet, but you can turn off the U1 chip in settings. Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Networking & Wireless

It's a good idea to turn off location services on all Apple devices systemwide. Having it on sends your location over the network to Apple (via visible Wi-Fi MAC address lists) all the time - it's not just passive GPS reception.

Apple then shares this data with the US federal government without the requirement for a warrant, whenever they ask via a FISA request. No probable cause of criminal activity is required: it can be used for pure fishing expeditions, or parallel construction.

I don't think it's reasonable that using the GPS functionality in my device also means the device manufacturer should perpetually receive a real-time log of everywhere my device goes that is then made available to federal investigators whenever they wish to see it.

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#562

Post by calsy »

calsy wrote: post #533
ghaff wrote: post #528

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People are not going to stop using small replaceable batteries.

And kids will continue to die from them, if you want to be that absolute about the topic.

Yes and items that are choking hazards for children are taken off the shelves. Poisonous chemicals must by law be clearly labeled and have child safety caps on them. Button batteries are not regulated, are found in more and more toys and devices that don't have necessary safety measures, have no warnings, are easily swallowed, the body gives no immediate reaction unlike chocking, is misdiagnosed because of this, and is an incredibly painful and prolonged death.

That ABC article I linked describes a family watching their 14-month old daughter dying over 19 days as the battery literally burns her insides while doctors continue to misdiagnose the problem until its too late. This is not a tragic one off incident, it is occurring repeatedly and will continue to do so if things stay as they are.

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#563

Post by fma »

athorax wrote: post #41
jypepin wrote: post #18

This is directly competing with Tile[0] which you can buy 2 for 39.99. I guess the integration with Find My app would be pretty convenient but probably not worth the price difference? [0] https://www.thetileapp.com/en-us/store/tiles/sticker

The tile ones only have 150-400ft range, which is fine for locating things in your home, but not so great if you lose something out in public

Uhm...that's how bluetooth works? It's the same technology as AirTag.

Tile has an ecosystem where other tile users can back to you a tile you reported as lost.

Samsung has their where their SmartTag, anyone with a Samsung phone can report your SmartTag location.

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#565

Post by billyhoffman »

gumby wrote: post #534

These airtags have a couple of nice features: AR finder and the ability for anyone to adopt the protocol in their bluetooth stack. But I already have a bunch of tiles so I'd have to use both apps and know which one to use. The big benefit is there are more people with iPhones than there are people with iPhones+android who are running the tile app. Tile also has two useful form factors: a wallet-sized flat one and a t…

Great point on the TV remote. Apple missed a great opportunity here for the new Apple TV remote to include AirTag find-ability! AirPod cases are another good opportunity for this functionality to be built in

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#566

Post by Skunkleton »

sneak wrote: post #561
oop wrote: post #547

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a stretch to say anonymized reporting of nearby lost devices is abuse and part of a botnet, but you can turn off the U1 chip in settings. Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Networking & Wireless

It's a good idea to turn off location services on all Apple devices systemwide. Having it on sends your location over the network to Apple (via visible Wi-Fi MAC address lists) all the time - it's not just passive GPS reception. Apple then shares this data with the US federal government without the requirement for a warrant, whenever they ask via a FISA request. No probable cause of criminal activity is required: it…

True enough, but the same data is also available via your cellular provider, and they are happy to provide it to law enforcement as well. Your cell provider also sells the data for profit.

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#567

Post by billyhoffman »

yomansat wrote: post #156
prionassembly wrote: post #22

I've been thinking about a solution that would let me find a 4-10 year old child that gets lost in a big city crowd. Like a bracelet or something. Is the AirTag truly first or best in class?

Stick an old phone into their pocket/bagpack, sim ideal but not required. Connect that phone to your phone hotspot, so you can turn on your hotspot and, if the phone connects, it's nearby plus you can use Find My to track it from there, play sound... etc. Bonus if you have access to e.g. XFinity or whichever is the most prevalent free wifi around, so your phone can come online occasionally.

I appreciate this as a hack but it:

1) does not sound reliable or easy

2) fails open (if something doesn’t happen, that means something bad happened)

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#568

Post by jtsiskin »

rodiger wrote: post #54
p49k wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s in the article too. It will start beeping when moved if it’s following someone that’s not the owner for a while.

Doesn't help if it's, say, on the undercarriage/trunk of your car.

Or if you cut the wire to the beeper..

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#569

Post by fma »

Krasnol wrote: post #55
freddyheppell wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMO the big advantage of AirTags will be that you can locate them if they're near anyone with an iPhone, but Tile is limited just to their own users. Anecdotally I don't know anyone who uses Tile but I know plenty of people with iPhones.

I know a lot of people who with Android phones which makes AirTags the limited item.

Also FWIW Samsung has SmartTags where Samsung phones (forgot which version+ is required) will ping tags if lost in public. There's prob more Samsung phones than Tile users - so what Apple is doing w/ their ecosystem isn't innovative.

I have Samsung, my wife has Apple...so we're sticking with Tile.

Re: Apple Introduces AirTag

#570

Post by mttjj »

sneak wrote: post #561
oop wrote: post #547

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a stretch to say anonymized reporting of nearby lost devices is abuse and part of a botnet, but you can turn off the U1 chip in settings. Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Networking & Wireless

It's a good idea to turn off location services on all Apple devices systemwide. Having it on sends your location over the network to Apple (via visible Wi-Fi MAC address lists) all the time - it's not just passive GPS reception. Apple then shares this data with the US federal government without the requirement for a warrant, whenever they ask via a FISA request. No probable cause of criminal activity is required: it…

Do you have a source for these claims? Specifically the ones about your locations being sent to Apple and then Apple sharing all of this data with the ‘US federal government’.
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