In an official statement issued through its website, Apple said it will take further steps to prevent people from having their position accompanied by malicious use of AirTags. According to the brand, the measures are studied together with various law enforcement authorities in places where such situations have been recorded.
Some actions will be taken with immediate effect, with software enhancements on mobile devices that detect the unwanted presence of locators:
- New privacy alerts when configuring AirTags: From now on, users who configure AirTags for the first time will receive a very clear message, indicating that the products are designed to locate their own goods, and using them to stalk others without consensus is a crime in many regions of the planet;
- Alert adjustments with AirPods: Some people have reported that the message “Unknown accessory detected” is shown on iPhones or other similar devices when unconfigured AirPods, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max are moving along with the user. This alert will be adjusted to show the specific name of the identified item, and a different phrase will be shown with the AirTags;
- Support documentation update: Apple has updated the support texts on its website with more explanation regarding the Search app accessories that can generate alerts, as well as new instructions if an unknown device is found, with links to local bodies that can help in these situations.
Other measures will be taken in the near future, still this year:
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- Precise Search: Currently, configured AirTags can be located more easily with Accurate Search, which uses components such as the accelerometer and gyroscope to find devices more easily and with centimeter accuracy. Apple is expected to expand these features as well for users who may be being stalked with the device;
- Visual alerts along with audible ones: When an AirTag starts to automatically emit an alert sound when identifying possible malicious uses, visual messages will be shown on the mobile device’s display at the same time;
- Unknown device alert refinement: In some reported cases of stalking with AirTags, mobile devices took several hours to show an alert that trackers are moving along with users. The brand should improve this feature, to allow these messages to be sent faster;
- Optimization of audible alerts: AirTags’ audible alerts will be set to sound at higher volume levels, so locating is easier and faster.
Persecution with AirTags is a recurring problem
According to Apple, cases of malicious use of AirTags are rare. However, several users have already reported that they have been persecuted for using the locator since its launch in April of last year — especially in the United States, Canada and Europe. The criminals’ tactic is similar in different situations: hiding the tiny device in places that are not in the victims’ field of vision, and then tracking its positioning for several hours.
The method became so common that AirTags without internal speakers began to be sold on eBay. The merchant claimed that the product’s intention was to improve the experience of using bikes or pets – even then, the ad was removed from the platform.
