Apple Fixes Major Privacy Issue Found in AirTags

Apple is rolling out an update for the new AirTags to fix privacy concerns raised by many users. When the device was released, it had a privacy issue; anyone using Apple’s AirTags could be easily tracked by a non-Apple user. The company claims to tackle the issue with this new update for the AirTags.

Since these are very small gadgets and aren’t noticeable, anyone could slip an AirTag into your backpack so that they could keep a track of you as long as your backpack carries it.

This wasn’t a big issue for iPhone users, since there iPhone has the potential to identify nearby related gadgets, like the AirTags. But it was a concern for others.

In a recent statement, Apple announced that it’s rolling out an update to addresses this privacy issue:

Following up on our commitment to continue to improve AirTag’s privacy and security, starting today we will be updating the time period after which an AirTag that is separated from its owner will play a sound when moved. This time period is changing from three days to a random time between 8 and 24 hours.

CNET

Here, the company is addressing Android users who will be notified if any AirTags are moving with them for up to 24 hours.