Apple kicked off WWDC week with a slew of announcements, most of them related to software and apps, as you might expect. One of the highlights is iOS 15, the next version of Apple's mobile platform, and the features it will bring to iPhone and iPad. Another highlight, not surprisingly, is the work Apple has done to protect its users' privacy. Of course, some privacy concerns could now be heightened by a new feature in iOS 15 that essentially makes Find My Network work even if the phone is turned off.
See also: Apple announced iOS 15: What are the new features?
Apple's commitment to privacy came under scrutiny when it launched AirTags (item trackers). The way the trackers track items attached to them raised several privacy and security concerns about Apple's Find My Network. The company is working to address those concerns, but another new "feature" in the upcoming iOS 15 could raise concerns again.
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According to 9to5Mac, an iPhone running iOS 15 will always be traceable on the Find My iPhone network, even if it’s turned off. In the event of low power or when turned off, the phone actually goes into a low-power state that makes it act like an AirTag. This way, it can be found as long as it still has a small amount of battery left.
What's most interesting is that it will work even when the phone is turned off. This would even allow for the tracking of a stolen iPhone, something that wasn't possible in the past.
See also: What does iCloud+ that Apple introduced at WWDC offer?
All of this provides additional peace of mind for owners of lost iPhones, and the feature is an additional addition to the already secure Find My Network. Also, the feature is also enabled by default, and users have to dig into the settings to disable it.
Information source: slashgear.com
