Apple AirTags could be used for surveillance, but not for long

Apple’s AirTags are designed to help people track belongings. It’s not unusual, however, for new technology to have unintended consequences. In this case, AirTags have been used to track people without their consent.

While there are already safeguards in place, Apple is making some improvements to make it even more difficult to track people. As it currently stands, an AirTag that is moving with you but not connected to your Apple ID will report itself. This is usually via a series of beeps. However, it’s possible that the speaker could be tampered with, or is not herd or understood.

Apple said in a recent statement that in a few occasions it has helped police locate people using AirTags for illegal tracking purposes.

Here’s what we can expect to see to improve AirTag privacy protection through a series of updates:

1. New Privacy Warnings – So when you purchase AirTags and set them up, you are greeted with a warning stating that AirTags are meant to track belongings and using them to track people may be illegal in your region
2. Unknown Accessory Alerts – AirPods (3rd Generation), AirPods Pro and AirPods Max headphones can also be used to track people. However, the on-screen warning doesn’t identify what they are, but rather, shows up as an ‘Unknown Accessory’. This will be fixed so any trackable item travelling with you will report what it is
3. Precision Finding – this makes it easier to find the AirTag that may be used to track you with your Phone. You’ll need an iPhone 11 or newer to make use of the feature
4. Display Alert – an errant AirTag will not only make a sound but also display a warning on your screen if it is following you around
5. Refining Tracking Logic – you will now be alerted earlier on when an AirTag is travelling with you
6. Tuning AirTag’s sound – the warning beep will now use louder tones making it easier to hear

What to do if you get an alter that an AirTag is tracking you

Apple’s official statement about AirTag tracking

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