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

An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

apple.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

221–230 of 508 posts

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#221

Post by rainsford »

concinds wrote: post #173
colinmhayes wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe you don't lose stuff as much as other people? My brother was always complaining about losing his wallet, his keys, anything you can think of. I got him a tile, but their product wasn't very accurate. Got him airtags and the problem is solved. Not only are air tags useful, but I'm sure that there are people who would be willing to switch to iOS solely to get access to airtags. That seems pretty valuable to apple…

> Maybe you don't lose stuff as much as other people? I relate to it and respect it, but it's doubtful anyone would switch to iPhone because of AirTags. Samsung and others also make trackers, and you don't need the Find My network if you lost your keys inside your house, any tracker will do. > Not only are air tags useful, but I'm sure that there are people who would be willing to switch to iOS surely to get access t…

I don't know how common this is, but I bought AirTags as a way to keep track of checked bags when traveling. That is a use-case that specifically benefits from being able to keep track of something outside of my phone's range where full GPS/cell connectivity would be overkill.

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#222

Post by rootusrootus »

badwolf wrote: post #50
ungoogled wrote: post #7

I'm sure they're frustrated that people keep using AirTags as tracking devices rather than local thing-finders, but I think there are good reasons for that. Local trackers have been around for a long time. I had a "TV remote finder" years ago that you'd stick to a TV remote (or keys), and it would beep when activated by a second device. More recently, Tiles work pretty well, assuming you don't need direction finding.…

> "TV remote finder" I was sorely disappointed when they announced the new Apple TV remote, and it didn't have airtag built into it.

I want to see AirTags built into all mobile Apple devices. iPhone, iPad, remotes. With it's own rechargeable battery, it would be really useful when my silly kid forgets where he left his iPad.

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#223

Post by concinds »

moogly wrote: post #174
concinds wrote: post #119

Android users are still vulnerable, and these announcements do nothing to reduce that. All a stalker needs to do, is remove the speaker. To detect a rogue AirTag, an Android owner needs to: 1) know AirTags exist (many obviously don't) 2) go out of their way to install Apple's Android AirTag scanner app (only 100k-500k worldwide have done so according to Google Play stats) 3) manually open the scanner app and scan, si…

> I remember seeing a chills-down-your-spine Apple Watch Series 7 TV ad, that featured beautiful remote nature landscapes, with the audio of 911 calls made from people's Apple Watches whose lives were saved by their Watch. Probably one of Apple's best and most impactful ad in the past decade. One could argue it's pretty distasteful to try to cash in on people's fears.

And that was the almost-universal response on reddit and YouTube comments, but are those people more, or less likely to buy an Apple Watch? Maybe not for themselves, maybe for their grandparents? Besides, it's the absolute bedrock of modern marketing, from weight loss pills to perfumes to clothing: when ads depict supposed customers smiling with their families, or going on a date, or being the center of attention at a party, it's the exact same psychological trick, twisting the knife of your insecurities, fears and FOMO, just done more subtly.

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#224

Post by nomel »

Closi wrote: post #118
warning26 wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GPS trackers require that you sign up for cell service, which is a non-trivial obstacle to overcome, and opens the user up to tracking by law enforcement. Thanks to Apple's usage of their own proprietary network, both difficulties are automatically negated.

You need to link your telephone number to use an AirTag indirectly - i.e. You need an AppleID to link the AirTag to, and you are required to provide a telephone number in order to create an AppleID (which is validated via SMS). In principle, Apple has the ability to match the AirTag to a phone number (if they do this or not, I don't know).

To add to this, anyone can scan an AirTag that they've found, with NFC, and get the serial and last four digits of the owners phone number.

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#225

Post by dylan604 »

phil21 wrote: post #145
heavenlyblue wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Police in the UK does not follow up on requests to retrieve iPhones from FindMyPhone because the GPS tracking isn't exact enough to find the correct appartment. So for stolen items, it is also useless.

> So for stolen items, it is also useless. It's not. I've recovered my phone after it was stolen by simply showing up to the house it wandered off to the next morning. I've done this a number of times for friends (perhaps not really the brightest idea in retrospect) and you'd be surprised at how many folks simply apologize and hand it over when confronted. If they refuse, at least you tried. Plenty of folks will take…

I wonder what the %s are of people that lose a device and do not immediately lock it? Is there a large enough market for buying stolen phones that are locked to make them useable again?

Do these people expect to extort a finder's fee? I just don't think "criminal" enough to understand the value of a stolen phone.

> Plenty of folks will take matters into their own hands for a $1,000 device

I was once mugged at gun point and the 2 guys took my wallet/cash/phone. For some stupid reason, I thought it a good idea to kindly ask for my wallet and phone back by convincing them the phone was several generations older, it would be locked as soon as I returned home, as well as any cards in my wallet being canceled. Also, just to avoid the pain in the ass of dealing with the banks and not going to the DMV for a new ID. The 2 guys laughed, and gave me everything back except the cash. To this day, I don't know what made me think that was going to happen. However, as soon as I turned the corner, I was on the phone with 911.

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#226

Post by dylan604 »

tyingq wrote: post #151
heavenlyblue wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Police in the UK does not follow up on requests to retrieve iPhones from FindMyPhone because the GPS tracking isn't exact enough to find the correct appartment. So for stolen items, it is also useless.

I would guess that since it's getting pinged by any/every iPhone that gets within ~10 meters, the AirTags are often more accurate, since "more samples". That probably doesn't help in all situations, but helps in a lot of them.

Possibly even by the criminals own devices. It's kind of genius

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#227

Post by randyrand »

"Every AirTag has a unique serial number, and paired AirTags are associated with an Apple ID. Apple can provide the paired account details in response to a subpoena or valid request from law enforcement."

For a company that 'values privacy', how do they think it's acceptable to only advertise this information now?

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#228

Post by polar »

cyral wrote: post #8
seltzered_ wrote: post #5

"We plan to update our unwanted tracking alert system to notify users earlier that an unknown AirTag or Find My network accessory may be traveling with them." How does this work if one doesn't own an iPhone?

There is an Android app which allows Android users to see the same notifications.

That doesn't help people who don't use Android either.

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#229

Post by tacLog »

rainsford wrote: post #218
concinds wrote: post #119

Android users are still vulnerable, and these announcements do nothing to reduce that. All a stalker needs to do, is remove the speaker. To detect a rogue AirTag, an Android owner needs to: 1) know AirTags exist (many obviously don't) 2) go out of their way to install Apple's Android AirTag scanner app (only 100k-500k worldwide have done so according to Google Play stats) 3) manually open the scanner app and scan, si…

I think a major part of the announcement you're skipping over is the clear statement that individual AirTags are linked to specific AppleIDs and Apple will cooperate with law enforcement to help identify the owners of AirTags used for criminal activity. If you're a wannabe stalker, the fact that Apple has made it clear they're just itching to point the cops in your direction if you misuse their technology seems like…

Do you have to reveal who you are to Apple to use an airtag though?

Or with decent operational security can you purchase and activate airtags in an untraceable way?

If you can that undermines your point, however if you can't then your making a very good point.

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#230

Post by dylan604 »

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #179
moogly wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I remember seeing a chills-down-your-spine Apple Watch Series 7 TV ad, that featured beautiful remote nature landscapes, with the audio of 911 calls made from people's Apple Watches whose lives were saved by their Watch. Probably one of Apple's best and most impactful ad in the past decade. One could argue it's pretty distasteful to try to cash in on people's fears.

Well, that is one of the pillars of advertising these days. Survival food? Fear. Antivirus software? Fear. Expensive Organic Cat Food? Fear (of the inorganic cheap food). LifeLock? Fear. Insurance of any kind? Fear. Solar panels for off-grid? Fear (of the grid going down). Your cousin's extensive gun collection? Fear (if things get bad). And so on...

Some of those might be a stretch to go with fear.

Solar panels is pretty much targeted as a way to avoid high utility bills, trying to go green, etc. If you're in a circle of consipiracy types, then maybe the off-grid aspect is preached more. Mainly though, it's just about avoiding the bills, and maybe avoiding power interruptions. That requires batteries though. That might qualify as fear advertising.

Post reply on HN