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             iOS 17.5 Adds Cross-Platform Location Tracking Alerts

   Adam Engst

   Apple has released a hefty collection of operating system updates with
   a few new features, a new Pride Radiance wallpaper and watch face,
   unspecified bug fixes, and a slew of security fixes. You can now use
   Software Update to download [1]iOS 17.5, [2]iPadOS 17.5, [3]macOS 14.5
   Sonoma, [4]watchOS 10.5, [5]tvOS 17.5, [6]HomePod Software 17.5,
   [7]macOS Ventura 13.6.7, [8]macOS Monterey 12.7.5, [9]iOS 16.7.8, and
   iPadOS 16.7.8.

Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers

   The most important new feature is [10]support in iOS 17.5 and iPadOS
   17.5 for a new industry specification'[11]Detecting Unwanted Location
   Trackers'that makes it possible for both iOS and Android to alert users
   if they are unknowingly being tracked by a Bluetooth tracking device
   like the AirTag. The spec says:

     This document's goal is to, in part, help protect the privacy of
     individuals from unwanted tracking by location-tracking accessories.
     Location-tracking accessories provide numerous benefits to
     consumers, but, as with all technology, it is possible for them to
     be misused. Misuse of location-tracking accessories can result in
     unwanted tracking of individuals or items for nefarious purposes
     such as stalking, harassment, and theft. This document is focused on
     protecting people from misuse of location-tracking accessories.
     Formalizing a set of best practices for manufacturers will allow for
     scalable compatibility with unwanted tracking detection technologies
     on various smartphone platforms and improve privacy and security for
     individuals.

     Unwanted tracking detection can both detect and alert individuals
     that a location tracker separated from the owner's device is
     traveling with them, as well as provide means to find and disable
     the tracker. This document outlines technical best practices for
     location tracker manufacturers, which will allow for their
     compatibility with unwanted tracking detection and alerting
     technology on platforms.

   Thanks to this new specification, smartphone owners running iOS 17.5,
   iPadOS 17.5, or Android 6.0+ will receive alerts if an unknown
   Bluetooth tracking device is seen moving with them over time,
   regardless of which platform that device is paired with. Apple implies
   that AirTags and Find My accessories are already compatible with this
   new spec and says that other manufacturers of Bluetooth trackers,
   including Chipolo, Eufy, Jio, Motorola, and Pebblebee, have committed
   to making future tags compatible. Of course, that suggests that current
   trackers may not be compatible.

Apple News+ Additions

   Subscribers to Apple News+ receive two new features: [12]the original
   spelling game Quartiles and Offline Mode. Quartiles shows a grid of
   tiles containing two to four letters and challenges players to combine
   them to make longer words, scoring points based on word length. A new
   Puzzles Scoreboard shows personalized stats and streaks for each
   puzzle. Quartiles and the Puzzles Scoreboard are available on the
   iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

   Offline Mode enables iPhone and iPad users to automatically download
   Top Stories, Apple News Today audio briefings, complete magazine issues
   and narrated articles from News+ publishers, and puzzles to access
   later, without any sort of Internet connection'handy for those long
   flights. Downloaded content refreshes once the device is back online.
   Apple says Offline Mode optimizes downloads to maximize free space on
   the device.

Update Advice

   These updates present an unusual set of update scenarios:
     * iOS 17.5 and iPadOS 17.5: I recommend updating to these versions
       quickly because they can alert you to Android-paired Bluetooth
       trackers moving with you. It's unlikely, certainly, but better safe
       than sorry.
     * iOS 16.7.8, iPadOS 16.7.8, and macOS 13.6.7 Ventura: Among the
       security vulnerabilities that Apple addressed in these older
       operating systems is one that is being actively exploited in the
       wild. If you are using an iPhone or iPad that cannot be updated to
       iOS 17.5 or iPadOS 17.5, or a Mac that's still running Ventura, I
       recommend installing these security updates right away. There are
       no other changes.
     * Everything else: For the remaining operating systems, I encourage
       updating soon because they address quite a few security
       vulnerabilities. However, none are being exploited in the wild, so
       there's less urgency.

References

   Visible links
   1. https://support.apple.com/en-us/118723
   2. https://support.apple.com/en-us/118702
   3. https://support.apple.com/en-us/109035
   4. https://support.apple.com/en-us/119065
   5. https://support.apple.com/en-us/106336
   6. https://support.apple.com/en-us/108045
   7. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT214107
   8. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT214105
   9. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT214100
  10. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/05/apple-and-google-deliver-support-for-unwanted-tracking-alerts-in-ios-and-android/
  11. https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-detecting-unwanted-location-trackers/
  12. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/05/apple-news-plus-introduces-quartiles-a-new-game-and-offline-mode-for-subscribers/

   Hidden links:
  13. https://tidbits.com/wp/../uploads/2024/05/Quartile-leaderboard-scaled.jpg

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