Are your AirPods spying on you for your employer? Cybersecurity experts warn of hidden tracking risks
Getting a shiny new pair of Apple AirPods from your employer seems like a great work perk, right? But tech experts are warning that it could be an act of hidden surveillance.
Marc Porcar
, a cybersecurity specialist at QR Code Generator, hints that AirPods gifted by employers could be secretly tracking your movements.
How do AirPods reveal private details?
Tracking your location could be the easiest thing that your AirPods can help with. They don't come with built-in GPS or cellular connectivity but can be tracked if connected to an Apple ID and paired with another Apple device, like the tech giant's AirTag.
A Daily Mail report quoted Porcar saying that employers can link AirPods to their Apple ID and find out locations of their employees through Find My Network. If a user wears them during work-from-home hours or carries them to the gym or a local café, their location might be visible to their employer.
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Reportedly, the concern becomes more serious if the AirPods have arrived without its packaging or in a box which seemingly has been opened previously. It could be an indicator that the device has already been set up on an account before reaching the user.
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How to protect privacy from AirPods?
Experts recommend restoring AirPods to factory settings before linking them with the user's personal Apple ID to protect the privacy. How can it be restored? Follow these simple steps:
Place both AirPods in the case, shut the lid and wait for 30 seconds.
Press and hold the setup button on the case's back for around 15 seconds after opening the lid, or until the status light becomes white.
Link the AirPods to a non-work Apple ID using one of Apple's devices—iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Porcar has advised the users to conduct the process in a familiar and private setting and not in a public place. This will ensure that the employer is not alerted about non-work activities.
What if one fails to reset AirPods?
If the user is unable to reset the AirPods but still wants to avoid location detection, they can delink it from your Apple ID through any device or by navigating Find My app or the device settings. Experts warned that using AirPods with an Android device will not help if they remain connected to an Apple ID.
The experts, however, ultimately urged users to limit the use of AirPods provided by an employer to work-related environments only. Porcar suggested against using such AirPods provided before or after work hours in order to protect one's privacy.
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FAQs:
Q1. Can AirPods really be used to track someone's location?
Yes. While AirPods don't have GPS, they can be located via Apple's Find My network if linked to an Apple ID, especially when near other Apple devices or paired with one.
Q2. What should I do if I suspect my work AirPods are being tracked?
Reset them to factory settings and pair them with your own Apple ID. Alternatively, remove them from the linked Apple ID via your iPhone or Mac to disable tracking features.
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