‘Personal Safety User Guide’ by Apple
- January 27, 2022
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
No Comments
‘Personal Safety User Guide’ by Apple
Subject – Science and Tech
Context – Apple has released a ‘Personal Safety User Guide’ to address growing AirTag stalking cases
Concept –
- Apple launched what it calls a “Personal Safety User Guide” to address the growing stalking problems caused by its AirTags, a little tracking device the size of a coin meant to keep tag of personal devices.
- Apple is known for providing an extra layer of security when users buy its products or subscribe to any of its services.
What is an Apple AirTag?
- Last year, Apple debuted its AirTag item tracker as a new accessory for iPhone users. If you lose a wallet with an AirTag attached to it, you will get a notification with the location when someone with an iPhone, iPad or Mac comes within Bluetooth range of it. Any iOS or Mac device that comes close to the tag sends the location of an AirTag to Apple’s cloud computing network and onto the owner.
- An app called “Find My” on the iPhone tracks how far the tracker is and displays a map with the exact location. Apple says only the owner can see where exactly the tag currently is, and the tracking device doesn’t store location or history.
- But the AirTag is increasingly becoming a tool for stalking, especially in the US and Canada.
Personal Safety User Guide
- Personal Safety User Guide is aimed at providing users with resources, including personal safety features available across the Apple ecosystem.
- Although a data privacy guide was first published a year ago, it has now been updated to include a section on AirTags.
- In the guide, Apple talks about privacy features and the security mechanism in place to prevent stalking and provides instructions on what to do if you hear an AirTag making a sound that doesn’t belong to them.
- To be clear, Apple is not introducing any new security features to beef up the privacy features. This guide is a useful safety resource for anyone “who is concerned about or experiencing technology-enabled abuse, stalking, or harassment.”