Apple updates guidelines for the Anti-Stalking feature set for AirTags
Apple to reduce the duration before first Alert, and potentially launching an app for Android users too
In the leading days to Apple’s most awaited WWDC comes another key announcement for the privacy of its users where Apple has reportedly reduced the time duration of the first Alert to a random time duration between 8 to 24 hours of an unknown AirTag following you.
Apple launched the much-awaited AirTags in the last event, and people had some concerns regarding the stalking capabilities of the AirTags. Apple reportedly cleared the air over the security and privacy features they had built into the AirTags and the FindMy network.
At first, the set of precautionary features seemed to be enough to address the concerns we people had. But when we started receiving the AirTags some of the users tried their hands at stalking their colleagues and family members and found out that some of the alerts and privacy features did work but took an unusually long time to be deemed useful to counter the stalkers.
In my last post, I did collate the findings and some odd things about the way Apple warned iPhone users of the unwanted AirTags.
Before launch, Apple would have had its share of dilemma to decide the best time duration. But the earlier set time of three days was an unusually long one, which would have helped the stalkers get hold of important information about the victim.
As per the reports the new duration would be 8–24 hours. What exactly will be the duration for the alerts Apple has declined to report. According to the past statements and the reports it would only be when the victim in a safe location and can get rid of the AirTag comfortably, probably not causing panic.
This seems to be a good solution too..
As per the experience, when the proposed time limit is breached, and the AirTag cannot find its owner in its range, it will pop up a notification currently only to the iPhone that it has been following with the message “An AirTag found moving with you.”
This feature was unique to the iPhones as the FindMy network is currently not available on the Android platform and we had some concerns surrounding this as over half of the American population is using Android phones.
With this announcement there comes some good news for Android users too, later this year Apple is planning to release a similar app to FindMy network for Android users that would help them know if a suspected AirTag is following them.
As per the media release, Apple states that:
Later this year, we will also introduce an Android application that will enable users to detect an AirTag or Find My network-enabled accessory separated from its owner that may be traveling with a user.
This is a Win-Win situation for all the parties involved, and potentially will help out more users to stay protected.
Hopefully, in the future, Apple will address other concerns as well. The primary one being helping out the users to locate the unknown AirTags as conveniently as their AirTags, as this might be a security concern too, but when it’s confirmed that someone is being followed then they must be allowed to get rid of the tracker as easily as possible.
Moreover, what Apple is doing reiterates their focus on the privacy of their customers and how much Apple does care about its customers. It is a good practice and should be more widely adopted in such times where data is going to be more and more valuable.
