Apple 's AirTags are designed to offer a convenient way to track, say , a child or pet so they don't get lost. But what if someone uses an AirTag to track you by putting it in your bag?
It seems Apple has thought about this possibility. 9to5Mac has added the new features to the iOS 14.5 beta, and there’s an interesting new option in the app . Called “Item Security Alerts,” this feature will alert you when an item unknown to you is somewhere on you and being tracked via Find My.
Users will be able to turn off Security Alerts in the Me tab of the Find My app. However, Apple will display a notification warning you that turning off this feature will allow someone to track you without you being notified .
“The owner of an unknown item will be able to see location and you will no longer receive notifications when an unknown item is with you,” the notification states.
AirTags, which have been the subject of speculation since April 2019, will likely be small, circular objects with Bluetooththat can easily be attached to other items, such as bags, bicycles, or clothing.
Apple has greatly expanded the functionality of the Find My app in recent iOS betas. A new “Items” tab has been added for tracking non-Apple devices, presumably via AirTags.
The new feature may not be exclusive to AirTags. The Verge notes that Apple plans to make the Find My app available to third-party accessories, such as Samsung. With support for so many accessories with tracking capabilities, some of which may be very small, the potential for malicious tracking becomes quite serious. Apple’s iOS 14.5 beta 3 is currently available to developers and beta testers.
