Apple is working on a new feature to protect your privacy from unwanted tracking. Remember how everyone was worried about AirTags being used for stalking? Well, Apple joined forces with Google last year to develop a new industry standard to address this concern. Tech website 9to5Mac found some clues hidden in the code of the iOS 17.5 developer beta that Apple just released.
Here’s what the code says: if you find a tracker that isn’t from Apple or part of their Find My network, your iPhone will be able to identify it and even help you disable it. The message will say something like “This tracker isn’t certified by Apple’s Find My Network. You can turn it off to stop it from sharing your location with the owner. Check the tracker’s website for instructions on how to do this.”
Even though you can’t play with this feature yet, it might be available when the official iOS 17.5 update comes out. And guess what? Companies like Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, Eufy, and Pebblebee are all interested in working with this new technology too!
Apple and Google mentioned working together on a system for both iPhones and Androids that can find and warn users about unknown trackers. Right now, iPhones can only find unknown Bluetooth trackers if they’re part of the Find My Network. Apple even made an app for Androids that can detect AirTags.
It seems like the iOS 17.5 Beta 1 doesn’t have any huge changes, just some minor tweaks. With rumors of new iPads and accessories coming from Apple in May, we expect the official release of iOS 17.5 to happen next month.
