How the Apple AirTag became a stalker’s gift

Re:How the Apple AirTag became a stalker’s gift by mojuba on Monday September 05, 2022 @08:21AM (#32723455)

Does that mean all Apple devices phone home about everything found nearby all the time?

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Re:How the Apple AirTag became a stalker’s gift by foxtrottbravo on Monday September 05, 2022 @08:50AM (#32723718)

If the user opted in to use the Find-My network, yes.

Most of users want a way to find / lock / remotely wipe their 1000$ phone in case it gets lost or stolen.

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Re:How the Apple AirTag became a stalker’s gift by MForster on Monday September 05, 2022 @09:01AM (#32723827)

Ah, so Apple is linking the feature of finding _my_ phone with reporting on lots of others? That explains why people turn it on, but I find that creepy.

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Re:How the Apple AirTag became a stalker’s gift by garblegarble on Monday September 05, 2022 @09:28AM (#32724065)

The technology is also built so that the location is encrypted for the device owner - so Apple doesn't have a database of the location of every Apple Find My enabled device in the world, which for me makes it not creepy - my devices can find my devices.

It's really useful for locating lost headphones, laptops, etc. -- whether stolen, left on public transport/taxi, or left at a friend's house.

Edit: link to Apple's description of how Find My works: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/sec6cbc80fd0/...

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Re:How the Apple AirTag became a stalker’s gift by MForster on Monday September 05, 2022 @09:37AM (#32724157)

Thanks for pointing out the encryption. That changes things a bit, IMHO.

Would have been nice if the article explained a bit what is actually happening. The wikipedia article doesn't mention it either...

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Re:How the Apple AirTag became a stalker’s gift by garblegarble on Monday September 05, 2022 @10:06AM (#32724438)

I've edited my comment to add a link to Apple's description of the service's approach: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/sec6cbc80fd0/...

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Re:How the Apple AirTag became a stalker’s gift by ipaddr on Monday September 05, 2022 @09:53AM (#32724301)

So when another phone tells apple the id and location apple doesn't have a list of ids and locations?

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Re:How the Apple AirTag became a stalker’s gift by garblegarble on Monday September 05, 2022 @10:05AM (#32724419)

>apple doesn't have a list of ids and locations?

That's right - you can read more at [1]

1: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/security/sec6cbc80fd0/...

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Re:How the Apple AirTag became a stalker’s gift by Xx25 on Monday September 05, 2022 @10:25AM (#32724652)

Is there any independent analysis of this end to end encryption of location data, that confirms that Apple can not really access the location even if they want to?

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