Apple AirTags is set as a useful accessory for tracking lost items, but what stops that feature from being used against you? This is Apple’s built-in anti-stalker feature.
There are new references to Airtags in iOS 14.5 Beta, but iOS developer Benjamin Mayo has discovered a secret feature that prevents anyone from using the tracking capabilities of Airtags to keep tabs.
Airtags aren’t expected to feature GPS tracking, but what we’ve heard is that they can use ultra-wideband signals to pin passing iPhones. It gives the owner a rough idea of where a particular Airtag is, letting them track it for themselves.
Obviously, it can be exploited. If someone slips an Airtag with your person, it can constantly ping iPhones (possibly even your own) and let someone monitor your condition whenever it feels like it. Luckily. Apple has already figured this out with a security feature.
Looks like iOS 14.5 when unknown Airtags are roaming and notify you about it. These security features seem to be turned on by default, but you seem to have the option to turn them off. Why you Only you can answer that. As Mayo noted, the fact that the feature can be turned off suggests that Apple may experience some false positives.
Say, for example, you’re going for a walk with a friend who has an Airtag in their wallet. Your iPhone can pick it up and be suspicious. Although it’s not, because your friend is only using it to keep tabs in his own possession
Of course, we’re only guessing about the ins and outs of the system because the Airtags haven’t actually turned on yet. Things may change after the public release of iOS 14.5 or we have the Airtag system strong enough that false positives are very rare.
We’ll have to wait and see when Apple finally unveils Airtags to the world. The company is rumored to have an Apple Spring 2021 event coming up later this month, and we expect it to be time for the Airtags to shine.
