Two weeks following their announcement, the new anti-tracking measures related to AirTags are implemented in beta 4 of iOS 15.4. These measures aim to reduce the risk of tracking people with AirTags, while several scandals have already erupted. First change, when setting up a new AirTag (or other tracker compatible with the Locate network, we tested it with a Chipolo Card Spot), a warning is now present.
Where iOS 15.3 and earlier versions simply indicated that the AirTag was going to be linked to the Apple ID, iOS 15.4 is much more explicit regarding the prohibitions and the corresponding security measures:
This AirTag is associated with your Apple ID.
This AirTag is exclusively designed to track items that belong to you.
Using this AirTag to track people without their consent is considered a crime in many parts of the world.
This AirTag is designed to be detected by victims and allow law enforcement to obtain information to identify the owner.
It has the merit of being much clearer.
The second visible change is the disappearance of the “Object safety alert” option in the Locate settings. This withdrawal, which was not part of Apple’s announcements, is undoubtedly used to prevent a malicious partner from deactivating the security alert on the iPhone of its target.
An option has been added to customize tracking notifications in addition to Find My notifications. Tracking notification customization can only be accessed through the Locate app, there is no “tracking” item in the menu Settings > Notifications d’iOS.
Normally the alert “Unknown accessory detected” regarding AirPods (3rd generation, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max and Locate compatible headphones) needs improvement. It should now say it’s AirPods nearby when it does, rather than an anonymous message which may cause concern.
The final version of iOS 15.4 should be available in early March.