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

Post by xg15 » Thu, Sep 30, 2021, 10:51 PM UTC

notjesse wrote: post #41

Jtsummers wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Post by dcow » Thu, Sep 30, 2021, 10:53 PM UTC

Jtsummers wrote: post #63

dcow wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You mean "a little bird told you I was going to get rate limited", don't worry I gotchu.

No, HN will rate limit you if you post too quickly. I've been hit with it when I was involved in a back-and-forth in the past (part of the reason I added a 2-minute delay to my posts becoming visible, plus it gives me a chance to reconsider if they're worth posting or make edits).

Post by xg15 » Thu, Sep 30, 2021, 10:54 PM UTC

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?

Post by xg15 » Thu, Sep 30, 2021, 10:55 PM UTC

Jtsummers wrote: post #59

m0zg wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If there is such a capability (a rather technically involved one, I might add, all the way down to the silicon), do you really believe Apple can't turn it on at CIA/NSA's request without popping that dialog? And you wouldn't even know due to gag orders. And before you say this can't happen in the US, I can give you a few publicized examples of illegal spying on US citizens just in the past few years.

People have been carrying around portable GPS devices in their pockets for over a decade now. This threat is not new, and if you fear it, don't carry around a GPS device or one that will connect to other devices to get its location reported to a central server.

Post by whoisburbansky » Thu, Sep 30, 2021, 11:00 PM UTC

bushbaba wrote: post #78

pininja wrote: post #15

Very interesting read. This seems to be implemented as a Bluetooth LE app running on the ultra-low power “always on processor” used for a variety of features, like “wake-up on motion.” Much like an Tile or AirTag is implemented. No comment on what this is capable in the future.. but for now this shows power usage / signal strength / proximity of other “actually on” devices are a limitations of this feature. What’s im…

> I’ll be pretty shocked if I’m “spied on” with this style of device. Why? There's plenty of devices in the wild constantly looking for wifi connection attempts, BLE Scans. Even cellular provider track locations in real-time by logging what cell towers you're using and associated signal strength. Just search for a place in google maps, and note the "Popular Times". How do you think they got that data :D