Seems like a huge security risk, but phones have similar capability.
Why/how is it a security risk?
Lufthansa has not banned AirTags
161–170 of 262 posts
Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags
#162Earlier quoted context omitted.
Airtags are explicitly not meant to track people. Apple goes out of their way to ensure them and their accessory partners do not advertise them being on a person regardless of age or relation to the airtag owner. But that's the thing with technology, isn't it? New tech comes out, companies do the right thing, but the freedom of the technology itself enables bad actors to abuse or repurpose the technology. For example…
> Airtags are explicitly not meant to track people. Apple goes out of their way to ensure them and their accessory partners do not advertise them being on a person regardless of age or relation to the airtag owner. In this same spirit, gun ads don't have intruders being arbitrated in the ads. Why would Apple display people being tracked? reply
I have never seen an ad for a gun of any kind. Off topic I know. But I didn't realise that until now. Do Americans have ads for guns anywhere? I've never seen it
Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags
#163Earlier quoted context omitted.
For electronic devices containing lithium batteries, the ICAO regulations mandate that “ if devices are carried in checked baggage: — measures must be taken to prevent unintentional activation and to protect the devices from damage; and — the devices must be completely switched off (not in sleep or hibernation mode); ” Previous discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33128614
GP is making the assertion that Airtags are cargo tracking devices powered by a button cell, which this document issued in 2021 (note the document referenced in that thread is from 2017) appears to exempt from those requirements (both from a battery point of view, and from the wireless signal one). IMO it's hard to argue that they're not, but then the question in my mind becomes "is checked baggage cargo?" for the pu…
The GP is referencing IATA, while I was referencing ICAO (same as Lufthansa did). Not sure if they conflict, or how such a conflict would be resolved.
Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags
#164Earlier quoted context omitted.
And? That says nothing about whether or not the battery must be removed from the device, which is important due to how much of a hassle that would be.
It's possible they know that the ICAO regulations on electronics are really silly, but they're too lazy to challenge it directly. It's easier to just dodge the question and let customers do whatever they want. 99% of customers will not research this question and I expect all airlines to continue ignoring those regulations.
Yeah, obviously the situation here is that by the letter of the law, you can't have electronics/batteries in the cargo hold. But it's not like they're starting up an Airtags Gestapo to search every bag and throw people in jail. Don't ask don't tell, the more of a big deal people make about this policy the closer it gets to actually being a problem in practice.
Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags
#165Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Airtags are explicitly not meant to track people. Apple goes out of their way to ensure them and their accessory partners do not advertise them being on a person regardless of age or relation to the airtag owner. In this same spirit, gun ads don't have intruders being arbitrated in the ads. Why would Apple display people being tracked? reply
I have never seen an ad for a gun of any kind. Off topic I know. But I didn't realise that until now. Do Americans have ads for guns anywhere? I've never seen it
You'll see advertisements for guns and ammo on what we call 'billboards' on the road (it's an advertisement on a flat surface about 30ft long I'd estimate, and maybe 10ft high. usually along the highways). We also get these ads in the marketing flyers you get in the mail, or see them in magazine print ads.
Gun ownership here is a bit more of a formalized process, so in general if you're clear to purchase one we'll trust you with a firearm, with few exceptions. The background check has a finite window after which it fails open, then if there is a rejection after the fact, an agency will show up to collect the firearm.
I could buy a shotgun while shopping for grocery items in the same store [0]. Also, the place up the road that sells fishing bait and hats and things also sells pistols, rifles, bows, hunting supplies etc. If you ask to hold one they just hand it to you, unloaded with a trigger lock or zip tie through the action of course.
Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags
#166Delta has had RFID on all baggage tags for nearly a decade, meaning you can track your bag in the app to make sure it got on the plane and even when it has been delivered to baggage claim. It’s something that probably adds pennies to their costs and makes for a much better baggage situation. I love AirTags and agree that it will be impossible for Lufthansa to enforce this on any level, but it’s striking that more air…
Is it really RFID on all bag tags, or just optically scanned bag tag barcodes where you happen to be able to track the last scan location?
Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags
#167Earlier quoted context omitted.
Except they don’t because most have onboard wifi now. And most allow Bluetooth headphones, including Lufthansa: Lufthansa: Bluetooth headphones are allowed during every part of the flight.
So clearly this is again an airline using a rule as a "proxy" for something else they want. Like no chewing tobacco... Yeah it is gross but it is probably not a safety issue.
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Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags
#168Earlier quoted context omitted.
Has a CR2032 ever been the cause of an actual fire?
Maybe not (who knows), but the relevant aircraft transport regulations apply to all types of lithium-based batteries.
Not really. 2032's power most watches. There are far more watches than air tags. Why didn't they ban them?
Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags
#169Earlier quoted context omitted.
Air tags don't use lithium batteries. They use the big, flat, circular batteries that you have to replace.
Airtags use a CR2032 lithium battery: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211670 The FAA specifies both lithium ion and lithium metal batteries need to be in carry-on bags only, not checked: https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/more_info/?hazmat=7
So they dont let you check watches?
Re: Lufthansa has not banned AirTags
#170OT, kinda. My eldest kid is in the final year of UK junior school so finally cut lose to walk to and from school as is culturally acceptable here.. I gave her a phone so she could let us (mum/dad) know she was on her way home from school, deciding to go home to a friends etc.. the school caught wind and apparently it was against school policy so she was disciplined (along with a number of her peers) - the extent of w…
Fuck air tags? That's your take away? Fuck the school for stalking your child.