Last Updated on February 11, 2022 by Anu Joy
The sole purpose of Apple’s AirTags is to keep a track of your belongings such as wallets, keys, bags, laptops, luggage, or even your pet. If that object, with the AirTag on, is misplaced or stolen, you can track it down with ease. The Apple AirTags were introduced in April, 2021, and has helped people safeguard their valuables. However, there have been instances when AirTags were misused to stalk people or even steal cars. In the York region of Canada, there have been reports of five incidents in which thieves used Apple AirTags to track and steal luxury vehicles. BBC also reported that, unfortunately, people are misusing AirTags to stalk people.
Apple has now issued a statement regarding this concern and has condemned such misuse of its product. The company said that privacy was of utmost importance while designing the Find My network feature. To ensure the safety of its users the company has added certain security features to prevent the misuse of its AirTags.
Apple AirTag Improved Security Features
Apple says that while setting up the AirTag for the very first time, you will see a warning that tracking other people without consent is a crime in many parts of the world. If an unknown AirTag is following you, then it will notify you about the suspicious activity on your iPhone or Android devices that have the app installed. Other people in proximity with Apple iPhone 11, iPhone 12, or iPhone 13 will too receive the “unknown accessory” notification. They can precisely track the distance and directions to an unidentified AirTag. The precision tracking pulls information from the camera, ARKit, accelerometer, and gyroscope to point towards the unknown AirTag via a combination of sound, haptics, and visual feedback. This functionality was earlier limited to only the owner of the AirTag.
Apple says that the AirTag comes with a unique serial number. The paired AirTags are also linked with an Apple ID. The iPhone maker will cooperate with law enforcement and provide them with the account details whenever required. Additionally, the sound warning tone of the AirTag will be adjusted to be louder. The company says that it is listening to customer feedback and is focusing on refining the product with every software update, assuring users that it is safe to use.
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