Apple Releases a New ‘Personal Safety User Guide’ to Help with AirTag Stalking

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Over the years, Apple has attracted all types of users thanks to its relatively safe and secure devices and software when compared to other products. However, with the release of AirTags, this has changed a bit, as they can fairly easily be manipulated by people to track others. This has put a lot more focus on Apple products and safety, and it has ultimately led Apple to release a new Personal Safety User Guide, which was created to keep customers safe.

airtagMost of the suggestions and tips that are found in the guide aren’t things that are foreign to people who use Apple products, but there is a new section in the guide all about AirTags. In the guide, Apple explains the numerous features it has applied to AirTags, which were created to stop any unwanted tracking or stalking. It also shares information on what to do if there is an AirTag alert that doesn’t belong to them.

Apple has described this new guide as a resource for anyone who has concerns about harassment, abuse, or stalking through technology. Those who are experiencing this type of harassment or abuse can look at the guide and see step-by-step directions on how to remove access to their information as well as a guide on what they can do to improve their own safety. Though this guide doesn’t technically introduce any new features, it is a good start for people who are looking for a resource to help in these situations.

In this guide, Apple offers a full bulleted list of 13 different tasks that people can use to improve their security. The guide also shares three different checklists, which all provide directions to help people change their settings if they believe that someone might have access to their accounts. Additionally, there are tips on how to stop sharing information with other people.

Meanwhile, AirTags are being used by travelers to locate their lost luggage. Check out our post Be Aware of These Safe Travel Security Tips for more info.

When AirTags were first introduced, the main concern was that people could use the devices to stalk or follow and track other people. As more people have begun to use them, this has turned those concerns into a reality, as there are many reports of people using AirTags to follow others.

To help alleviate some of these issues, Apple introduced a new update that would make the AirTags beep if not near the owner’s phone for a set period of time. There is also a new app that Apple released, called Tracker Detect, which allows Android users to scan for these connections, too.

In addition to stalking, car thieves have also been using AirTags to track down, and eventually steal, expensive vehicles. There is also the fact that parents or partners can use the devices to track their children or significant others, which may bring up some moral issues.

Of course, not all AirTag use is bad. In fact, they can be very useful for things like finding your car in a crowded parking lot, finding your luggage when traveling, or even knowing where your pet is at any time. People also use these tags for much simpler things, like finding their keys in their apartment. Other people report using AirTags for good reasons, too, including tracking where their belongings are during a cross country move.

If you ever have concerns about being tracked with an unwanted AirTag, there are some things you can do to protect yourself. First, any AirTag that is not near its owner will cause an alert to appear on your Apple device. This tells you that an AirTag tracker is close by. They also put out a little alarm if they are away from the owner’s device for too long. Finally, if you are an Android user, you can also download and use the app Track Detect to make sure there are no AirTags nearby.

Written by Robert Siciliano, CEO of Credit Parent, Head of Training & Security Awareness Expert at Protect Now, #1 Best Selling Amazon author, Media Personality & Architect of CSI Protection Certification.

Protecting Your Accounts from Russian – or Any — Cyberattacks

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No matter when you look at the news, there is probably a story about Russian hackers…and if there is not a story about hackers from Russia, there is likely a story about hackers from China or a place like Turkey. There is definitely a chance that any hacker or hacking group could launch an attack against the US, and the government has even briefed companies about what to do if they believe they are at risk.

hacker chest

Just because you are an individual, it doesn’t mean that you are not at risk of a cyberattack, just like a company is. You may be wondering how you can protect yourself, since this is the case. This is a great time to learn more about how to stay safe from cyberattacks – no matter where they come from.

Many cybersecurity threats are coming from what is known as a “Distributed Denial of Service” (DDOS) attack, which is often launched against a website or a financial network. Basically, the hackers push so much traffic to a network or site that it totally crashes, which disrupts business. At this point, the IT team has to focus on getting the network or site back up, which opens a window for a hacker to move in right under their noses.

These attacks can happen at any time, and they can be quite far reaching. Back in 2012, a group of Iranian activists attacked more than a dozen banks in the US, which disrupted all of their sites.

So, what can you do to make sure this doesn’t happen to you? Here are some tips:

In addition to below, check out our post: Russian Hackers: 14 Ways to Protect Yourself and Your Business

  • CASH, YES Cash: Try to keep a little cash available, especially if you are going out of town. This way, you will have money in case a banking network or ATM is not working due to a DDOS.
  • For every banking or financial account you have, make sure you have a strong and unique password. Don’t reuse any passwords, and do not use any social media password for any banking site.
  • Always watch your financial accounts for unusual activity. Check your bank account online or via phone at least once a week, and if you can, every day or two. If there is a problem, it is always best to find it as early as possible.
  • Russian hackers often try phishing scams on social media or via email in order to get access to corporate networks. Never, ever click a link in an email or on social media from someone you do not know. They also use text messages to try to get people to respond with information that will allow them into accounts. Even if it seems like it’s coming from a company you are familiar with or even do business with…confirm everything before you click or give information.
  • Sign up for email or text alerts for all of your financial accounts. This way, if there is a weird transaction, you will be notified immediately.
  • You should also consider signing up for multi-factor authentication for any financial account. When you do, and someone tried to sign into your account…even yourself…the bank or other company will send you a code to the email or phone number they have on file. Even if you put the correct username or password in, you cannot get into the account without that code.
  • Always update all of your apps and software on every device, including phones, tablets, and computers. To make it easy, set these updates to occur automatically, and then you don’t have to worry about it.
  • Don’t believe everything you see online. There are a lot of scams out there, and there is a lot of “news” out there that is not real nor correct. Use common sense before doing anything.

Written by Robert Siciliano, CEO of Credit Parent, Head of Training & Security Awareness Expert at Protect Now, #1 Best Selling Amazon author, Media Personality & Architect of CSI Protection Certification.