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An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

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Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#421

Post by LexGray »

Godel_unicode wrote: post #211
BeefWellington wrote: post #184

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This works assuming the speaker hasn't been compromised by a would-be stalker.

There's already a thriving market in muted airtags, a quick ebay search will get you there.

There would be the hazard that you can no longer say it was an accidental stalking if you use a professionally tampered with device. Given that there are a lot of iPhones out there even if your device doesn’t detect it your friend may ask what is up. Then law enforcement can use the AirTag serial number to track back to the account it is linked to.

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#422

Post by fingerlocks »

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…

Another fringe use case no one has mentioned:

Finding a detached ski in titty-deep backcountry powder. AirTags can be literally life saving.

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#423

Post by gambiting »

swiftcoder wrote: post #399
gambiting wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>and significantly increases the average person's risk of stalking. I mean, increase from 0.00001% to 0.0001% is still significant and yet I still wouldn't worry about it in the slightest.

> I mean, increase from 0.00001% to 0.0001% is still significant and yet I still wouldn't worry about it in the slightest. I think there's probably a little gender bias at play in your risk estimation. I too am not particularly worried about someone stalking my 6ft ass - but I'd say a majority of my female friends have experiences with stalking at some point in their life.

Yes, you are right of course. But I suspect even when taking gender into account, the risk of being stalked AND tracked by an AirTag is absolutely miniscule and not worth worrying about. But I'm talking completely out of my ass, would love to see some data behind it.

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#424

Post by gambiting »

xyzzyz wrote: post #297
hunterb123 wrote: post #264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Brits don't have a 2A. We have it because of the Brits. Life isn't that strange if you follow it back. They have knife bans because they never let their citizens have guns, so there are knife attacks, so they ban knives. That's why terrorists when they can't sneak AK47s in, rely on vans to run people over, that's why there are bollards everywhere. Chemical attacks, axes and such can also be used to kill or harm p…

Interestingly enough, Brits used to also have right to own and bear arms, but they lost it in early 20th century. That’s what happens with freedom, if you don’t watch it.

I just don't get these comments at all.

British people absolutely have freedom to own guns, just perhaps not in the way Americans do, but yes they are in no way forbidden nor is anyone's freedom in danger - I know lots of British people with guns, way more so than where I'm originally from(Poland). You apply for a permit, then a local officer comes over to your house to just make sure you have somewhere safe to store it and that's basically it, go and buy yourself a gun, no problem at all. If you know anyone who lives on a farm they will most likely own at least one shotgun, for shooting rabbits if nothing else.

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#425

Post by [deleted] »

askbjoernhansen wrote: post #381
randyrand wrote: post #227

"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?

If only there was a way to figure out what the website address is, maybe they indeed would have "advertised this information" ... https://www.apple.com/privacy/government-information-request...

[deleted]

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#426

Post by kennywinker »

apexalpha wrote: post #412
morpheuskafka wrote: post #392

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Android users are still vulnerable, and these announcements do nothing to reduce that. I feel like this is ignoring the fact that if any company other than Apple made these trackers, it wouldn't do this with anyone's phones. The fact that these work out of the box with iPhones is a bonus, not an entitlement that any phone of any brand should have full support for them without installing any apps and without the use…

The fact that these work out of the box with iPhones is a bonus, not an entitlement that any phone of any brand should have full support for them without installing any apps and without the user even knowing that the product exists. Isn't this the whole clue, rather than just a bonus? When someone slips an AirTag on to you every single iPhone in the world forms a sort of ad-hoc spying network against you. Without you…

You can opt out of participating in this spy network, and probably should Settings -> (tap your apple id card at the top) -> Find My -> Find my iPhone -> turn off “Find My Network”

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#427

Post by randyrand »

askbjoernhansen wrote: post #381
randyrand wrote: post #227

"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?

If only there was a way to figure out what the website address is, maybe they indeed would have "advertised this information" ... https://www.apple.com/privacy/government-information-request...

This is not the kind of detail that should be buried in small font.

Apple has a privacy report card for every app on their store, a whole “data linked to you” section.

If that is necessary for apps, why is that not necessary for a product that literally can track you?

It should not be buried.

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#429

Post by MaxikCZ »

estaseuropano wrote: post #378
simondotau wrote: post #338

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The notion of an umbrella lasting 20 years boggles my mind. I've never had one last more than 2–3 years and I don't use them much. I've looked for premium umbrellas before but every time I find one that isn't ridiculously priced, there's always a contingent of reviewers who insist that it fell apart in heavy wind or frequent use. Normally I buy $10 umbrellas from Australia's big hardware store chain. They aren't grea…

Like for many products there is an entire segment of the market that most people never even know exists. E.g. premium umbrellas that are made to last against wind and wear. I have this one, has so far lasted close to 10 years. https://www.senz.com/

I would guess a lot of people would bet such market segment exists, but are unable to find a manufacturer/seller. Since higher price often doesnt mean higher quality, its hard to distinguish expensive tools that will last decades from similarly priced tools that wont last as much.

Re: An update on AirTag and unwanted tracking

#430

Post by dodgerdan »

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…

Technology can be used for good and bad. If Apple AirTags disappeared tomorrow Tile and GPS trackers would still exist, but Apple have highlighted legitimate use cases to hundreds of thousands of people like me for theses devices (I use mine for my luggage and my dog).
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