The other day Apple published the “Personal Security User Guide” to assist anyone concerned or experiencing technology-enabled abuse, stalking, or harassment. Alongside the personal security features available in the Apple ecosystem, the guide is a resource that helps people understand what their options are when they want to remove someone’s access to shared information.
Most importantly, it also includes a “Stay safe with Find My AirTag and other Accessories” page. It is interesting that these warnings were issued at a time when people feared that they could be monitored by technology.
Besides AirTag security, the guide also answers questions like how to block unknown sign-in attempts, how to securely store data in iCloud, how to set up TouchID and FaceID, and control how others can see your location.
When AirTags were released in April 2021, Apple emphasized that devices had built-in anti-tracking measures. This included notifications and audible alerts sent to iPhones over time when an AirTag was detected to be moving with them.
However, some reviewers heavily criticized the measures, saying in particular that they found three days insufficient for AirTags to sound an audible alert. Apple later changed this to a random period of eight to 24 hours after leaving the owner’s iPhone.
Apple also recently released Tracker Detect. This is an app to help Android users scan for unwanted AirTags around them. Pennsylvania State Representative John Galloway even proposed a law banning the use of AirTags for anything other than locating lost items.
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