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Always-on Processor magic: How Find My works while iPhone is powered off

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Re: Always-on Processor magic: How Find My works while iPhone is powered off

#41

Post by notjesse »

Jtsummers wrote: post #25
m0zg wrote: post #12

Yep, that's not going to spark conspiracy theories and damage the brand at all, just like the backdoor they've recently put in. /s Again, why would $3T company damage its brand like that? It's not "for children" and certainly not to "find your phone". There's something going on there.

Apple has made it easier for users to locate lost (by being misplaced, forgotten, or stolen) devices with a feature that the user can opt out of on a temporary or permanent basis. What is controversial about this?

Many will misinterpret it. We have seen how much the public can fundamentally misunderstand technical information over the past year.

People will just see that: 1. You can never disconnect your iPhone from the grid and stop it from being tracked. Even if you turn it off. 2. Governments, companies, and other (from the conspiracy theorist's standpoint) will be able find you whenever they want.

I am sure there are some legitimate security concerns here, but Apple seems to have taken reasonable steps to provide a pretty awesome feature which has solved a lot of risky edge cases.

Re: Always-on Processor magic: How Find My works while iPhone is powered off

#42

Post by trangus_1985 »

saagarjha wrote: post #36
trangus_1985 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're not familiar with it, their platform security team releases a whitepaper about the technical details of their security. Regardless of how you feel about Apple, these documents are incredibly well done and interesting to read. The Find My section may have more information, as will their contract tracing docs (which use a riff of the same technology) https://covid19.apple.com/contacttracing I highly recommend…

Unfortunately that document mentions the AOP just once, only confirming its existence. It doesn't actually describe what it does.

They do yearly updates, the 2022 doc will very likely have more information. Regardless, the 2021 doc has some key foundations of the technology that are worth knowing.

The contract tracing docs _should_ be almost the same technology, and knowing how that works _should_ be a good start. At least, from my eyeing the OP's article as a lay person.

Re: Always-on Processor magic: How Find My works while iPhone is powered off

#43

Post by dcow »

backspace_ wrote: post #40
dcow wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't disagree but like if you want an open system why are you using an iPhone? Maybe Green is a little guilty of slurping up Apple's privacy marketing?...

Everyone is quite an absolute word. How are non apple users slurping up Apple's privacy marketing?

Edited.

Re: Always-on Processor magic: How Find My works while iPhone is powered off

#44

Post by saagarjha »

trangus_1985 wrote: post #42
saagarjha wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately that document mentions the AOP just once, only confirming its existence. It doesn't actually describe what it does.

They do yearly updates, the 2022 doc will very likely have more information. Regardless, the 2021 doc has some key foundations of the technology that are worth knowing. The contract tracing docs _should_ be almost the same technology, and knowing how that works _should_ be a good start. At least, from my eyeing the OP's article as a lay person.

AOP has been a thing since iPhone 6s, so they're not particularly rushed in documenting it.

Re: Always-on Processor magic: How Find My works while iPhone is powered off

#46

Post by trangus_1985 »

dcow wrote: post #14

Is Matthew Green some industry security personality that people respect? I appreciate this write up, it's interesting. But it seems motivated by his little Twitter rant the other day. Who is he beyond some Twitizen in a Guy Fawkes mask who hates HN? I don't particularly like his demeanor, at least from his rather naively uninformed tantrum the other day. Didn't seem very professional or respectable so I just wrote hi…

"who hates HN"

This site, and this community, is great in my opinion. But it's not without valid criticism, especially considering the impact it can and has made in the industry and tech society.

"naively uninformed tantrum"

I'm unable to find the posts you're talking about.

Re: Always-on Processor magic: How Find My works while iPhone is powered off

#49

Post by Iolaum »

So according to the post iphones now have an AOP (Always on Processor) running a proprietary operating system with access to other phone components. Do we know if other manufacturers also include such a processor?

A quick google search showed a relevant apple patent [0] and a similar qualcomm processor product for wearables [1] which suggests to me this (always on processors on consumer electronics) "is out there ..."

[0]: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20150362980A1/en [1]: https://www.eenewspower.com/news/12nm-always-processor-slash...

Re: Always-on Processor magic: How Find My works while iPhone is powered off

#50

Post by AceJohnny2 »

Iolaum wrote: post #49

So according to the post iphones now have an AOP (Always on Processor) running a proprietary operating system with access to other phone components. Do we know if other manufacturers also include such a processor? A quick google search showed a relevant apple patent [0] and a similar qualcomm processor product for wearables [1] which suggests to me this (always on processors on consumer electronics) "is out there ...…

> now have an AOP (Always on Processor)

They've long had this. It's how they turn on when picked up (by tracking the motion sensor) or when touching the screen (tracking capacitive sensor)

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