Apple on Thursday released an over-the-air firmware update to its AirTags units to help prevent stalking on the Bluetooth devices. The update is designed to shorten the amount of time before an unknown AirTag alerts you if it is in your possession.
At the current time, AirTags play a sound after three days of being away from their owner. After the update, AirTags will begin playing at a random time in a window after eight hours and within 24 hours.
The company stated that it is also working on an app for Android devices that will allow them to detect an unknown AirTag or Find My network-enabled item that is found to be traveling with them, which will prevent AirTags from being used to stalk Android users.
AirTag units are designed to play a sound when away from their owner, and will also alert iPhone owners if there’s an unknown AirTag nearby. Apple, in turn, has been criticized that its anti-stalking measures don’t go far enough, and that the three-day sound time on AirTag resets could potentially allow for spousal abuse and stalking. Apple is currently working to address both of these issues.
The Android app will be released later this year, and the sound updates for AirTags will be automatically applied when an AirTag is near an iPhone.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.