Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

I used Apple AirTags, Tiles and a GPS tracker to watch my husband’s every move

nytimes.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 322 posts

Re: I used Apple AirTags, Tiles and a GPS tracker to watch my husband’s every move

#51

Post by wizzwizz4 »

ameminator wrote: post #31
bentcorner wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't have that take at all. The husband knew he was being tracked, she got permission from him prior to putting any tracking devices on him. > It could have been "forgiven" (if this word even applies) had it contributed something meaningful Just because you are aware of the dangers of tracking and how these devices work it doesn't mean others are equally aware.

This is actually one of the side issues I had with the piece. The way it's written, you would think that she asked explicit permission to track him to the hospital. However, what seems to have happened in reality, is that they had previously played a harmless game of "find the Airtags". Then, some time later, possibly a large period, she uses those Airtags to track the husband. It's hard to say in either direction if…

I doubt very much that a journalist would publish something about stalking their also works in journalism spouse without everyone involved being on board with what went on. I think it's written to highlight how creepy it is, with the occasional “I got my spouse's consent for all this” interludes to make a point that it's often used for non-consensual spying.

Articles don't normally highlight the virtues of the journalist where that's not relevant to the subject of the article.

Re: I used Apple AirTags, Tiles and a GPS tracker to watch my husband’s every move

#52

Post by adolph »

danso wrote: post #10
major505 wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The fact that she was to tired to take a baby to the hospital, but not to follow husband every step is what concerns me.

I'm sorry, but what? The ostensible benefits of AirTags is that they're extremely easy to use and track with an iPhone. Why is it concerning that the author feels too tired to go to the hospital (during covid-heightened restrictions), but not too tired to use her iphone? Is going to the hospital for pediatric care generally easy? Is actively calling her husband easier than passive notification via the Find My app? >…

> “I’m worried,” I told my husband. “I want you to take her to the hospital.”

> “Doctors always tell us to take the baby to the E.R. whenever we call about anything,” he replied, exasperated. (This was true.) “She is fine. She is eating and playing and happy. This is not an emergency.”

> He eventually caved and set out for the hospital a half-hour away.

The next article writes itself doesn't it?

In 2018, the United States spent about $3.6 trillion on healthcare, which averages to about $11,000 per person. Relative to the size of the economy, healthcare costs have increased over the past few decades, from 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 1960 to 18 percent in 2018. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) project that by 2028, such costs will climb to $6.2 trillion, or about $18,000 per person, and will represent about 20 percent of GDP.

https://www.pgpf.org/blog/2020/04/why-are-americans-paying-m...

Re: I used Apple AirTags, Tiles and a GPS tracker to watch my husband’s every move

#53

Post by maeln »

I think it is important to mention that clever people already managed to reverse engineer the Apple "Find My" network/protocol to "make tour own airtag" : https://github.com/seemoo-lab/openhaystack

This notably allow one to easily create a tracker that is silent and potentially smaller than an AirTag. Also easier to hid in a daily object since all you need is basically a nRF51822 and a battery.

People who don't own an iPhone, or in general a recent iPhone might be tracked without their knowledge (and, obviously, their consent).

The potential of misuse of this kind of tool is so great, we should really regulate against those.

Re: I used Apple AirTags, Tiles and a GPS tracker to watch my husband’s every move

#54

Post by toomuchtodo »

kbos87 wrote: post #32

My comment isn’t specific to AirTags, but there’s a much larger conversation that needs to be had about this gray area of stalking capabilities that are now built into many mainstream products. Here’s a pattern I’ve seen play out more than once among friends and family - they share their location willingly and for seemingly benign reasons. It’s helpful to know when you’ll be getting home so I can start dinner! Just i…

You can’t fix a lack of emotional fortitude and insecurities with technology. These are mental health challenges exacerbated by the tools available.

Re: I used Apple AirTags, Tiles and a GPS tracker to watch my husband’s every move

#55

Post by jtbayly »

adolph wrote: post #49
jtbayly wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually agree with you, but Tile is a better example, I think. Because needing to also get a working SIM card is a pretty substantial “oh, you’ll also need…”

> get a working SIM card is a pretty substantial Best Seller in Cell Phone SIM Cards SpeedTalk Mobile $5 Prepaid GSM Sim Card for GPS Tracking Pet Senior Kid Child Car Smart Watch Devices Locators 30-Day Wireless Service 3 4 out of 5 stars 8,954 $5.00 Today 2 PM - 6 PM

I would have thought I had to go to a phone store. Thx. Interesting.

Re: I used Apple AirTags, Tiles and a GPS tracker to watch my husband’s every move

#56

Post by oarsinsync »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #54
kbos87 wrote: post #32

My comment isn’t specific to AirTags, but there’s a much larger conversation that needs to be had about this gray area of stalking capabilities that are now built into many mainstream products. Here’s a pattern I’ve seen play out more than once among friends and family - they share their location willingly and for seemingly benign reasons. It’s helpful to know when you’ll be getting home so I can start dinner! Just i…

You can’t fix a lack of emotional fortitude and insecurities with technology. These are mental health challenges exacerbated by the tools available.

> You can’t fix a lack of emotional fortitude and insecurities with technology. These are mental health challenges exacerbated by the tools available.

I dont think the GP is suggesting that there's no technological changes required, just lamenting the root cause of the problem.

Similarly, technology can exacerbate gambling addictions, and we have measures we've put in place there.

It'll probably take some time to work that out though.

Re: I used Apple AirTags, Tiles and a GPS tracker to watch my husband’s every move

#57

Post by shmatt »

I have to guess some of these "bugs" have to do with the writer and her husband sharing an Apple family. When AirTag just started, my S.O would get alerts when we walked together, that my AirPods are following them. Well yeah, we were doing errands together and the AirPods were in my pocket.

These days it doesn't happen, I have to assume having a AirTag from your own defined family "track" you is not considered alert worthy anymore, at least not for the first few hours. Or somehow this bug still randomly pops up, but not right away

Re: I used Apple AirTags, Tiles and a GPS tracker to watch my husband’s every move

#58

Post by pluc »

kbos87 wrote: post #32

My comment isn’t specific to AirTags, but there’s a much larger conversation that needs to be had about this gray area of stalking capabilities that are now built into many mainstream products. Here’s a pattern I’ve seen play out more than once among friends and family - they share their location willingly and for seemingly benign reasons. It’s helpful to know when you’ll be getting home so I can start dinner! Just i…

The road to authoritarian technology is paved with convenience

Re: I used Apple AirTags, Tiles and a GPS tracker to watch my husband’s every move

#60

Post by rustybolt »

jeromegv wrote: post #28
rustybolt wrote: post #23

> All these people received warnings on their iPhones, a feature Apple had built into the AirTag system to help prevent unwanted tracking. So if you don't have an iPhone, enjoy being stalked!

What are your plans regarding Tile and GPS trackers that provide no warnings? What was your opinion on it before the current hysteria, did that bother you?

I don't know, I never thought about them before the AirTags were widely used, so I never really formed an opinion on them.

It just seems strangle that a safety measures is only made available for iPhone users.

Post reply on HN