Apple released iOS 17.5 yesterday, and one of the highlight features that iOS users should care about is the fact that it expands its ability to protect you from Bluetooth trackers. Up until yesterday, an iPhone could detect an AirTag or a FindMy compatible Bluetooth tracker. However if a threat actor used some other Bluetooth tracker, it would fly under the radar. That of course is a huge loophole. But that loophole gets closed if you update to iOS 17.5. Here’s how Apple described it in a press release issued yesterday:
With this new capability, users will now get an “[Item] Found Moving With You” alert on their device if an unknown Bluetooth tracking device is seen moving with them over time, regardless of the platform the device is paired with.
If a user gets such an alert on their iOS device, it means that someone else’s AirTag, Find My accessory, or other industry specification-compatible Bluetooth tracker is moving with them. It’s possible the tracker is attached to an item the user is borrowing, but if not, iPhone can view the tracker’s identifier, have the tracker play a sound to help locate it, and access instructions to disable it. Bluetooth tag manufacturers including Chipolo, eufy, Jio, Motorola, and Pebblebee have committed that future tags will be compatible.
In short, the functionality to find an unwanted tracker works the same way as iOS users are used to. I should also note that if you are on team Android, as long as you’re running Android 6 or higher, you’ll get this functionality as well. That way you’re protected from unwanted trackers. So if you’re an iOS user, and you haven’t updated to iOS 17.5, you might want to do it now to protect yourself from stalkers, car thieves, and other evil doers from tracking you.
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This entry was posted on May 14, 2024 at 9:07 am and is filed under Commentary with tags Apple. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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A Very Good Reason To Upgrade To iOS 17.5 ASAP Is That It Expands Protection From Unwanted Bluetooth Trackers
Apple released iOS 17.5 yesterday, and one of the highlight features that iOS users should care about is the fact that it expands its ability to protect you from Bluetooth trackers. Up until yesterday, an iPhone could detect an AirTag or a FindMy compatible Bluetooth tracker. However if a threat actor used some other Bluetooth tracker, it would fly under the radar. That of course is a huge loophole. But that loophole gets closed if you update to iOS 17.5. Here’s how Apple described it in a press release issued yesterday:
With this new capability, users will now get an “[Item] Found Moving With You” alert on their device if an unknown Bluetooth tracking device is seen moving with them over time, regardless of the platform the device is paired with.
If a user gets such an alert on their iOS device, it means that someone else’s AirTag, Find My accessory, or other industry specification-compatible Bluetooth tracker is moving with them. It’s possible the tracker is attached to an item the user is borrowing, but if not, iPhone can view the tracker’s identifier, have the tracker play a sound to help locate it, and access instructions to disable it. Bluetooth tag manufacturers including Chipolo, eufy, Jio, Motorola, and Pebblebee have committed that future tags will be compatible.
In short, the functionality to find an unwanted tracker works the same way as iOS users are used to. I should also note that if you are on team Android, as long as you’re running Android 6 or higher, you’ll get this functionality as well. That way you’re protected from unwanted trackers. So if you’re an iOS user, and you haven’t updated to iOS 17.5, you might want to do it now to protect yourself from stalkers, car thieves, and other evil doers from tracking you.
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This entry was posted on May 14, 2024 at 9:07 am and is filed under Commentary with tags Apple. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.