Apple releases iOS 13.5 to the public with Exposure Notification API, Face ID enhancements, more

9to5Mac ^ | 5/20/2020 | chance miller

[bkopto]

After releasing the golden master to developers earlier this week, Apple is releasing iOS 13.5 to the general public today. The update brings quite a few changes and new features prompted by COVID-19, including the Exposure Notification API, Face ID enhancements, and much more.

Apple and Google have been developing the Exposure Notification API with close guidance from public health officials. When a user enables the feature and has an app from a public health authority installed, the device will regularly send out a beacon via Bluetooth that includes a random Bluetooth identifier. From there, the Exposure Notification API will download a list of the keys for the beacons that have been verified as belonging to people confirmed as positive for COVID-19 and check against that list. If there is a match, the user may be notified and advised on next steps.

[bkopto]

Personally, I won't be installing this update.

[coaster123]

No need. It will be installed and opened without your consent or knowledge. One government demerit earned, however.

[spetznaz]

I was going to post that there’s no way I would download that before I also realized that it will most likely be added whether I like it or not. Maybe it’s time for a simpler phone - circa 2002

[coaster123]

I’ve no phone. Ha!

[Flick Lives]

https://osxdaily.com/2020/05/21/how-enable-and-disable-covid-19-exposure-notifications-iphone/

[wildcard_redneck]

It is time to buy cheap, sliding camera lens covers to block your smartphone cameras.

[proud American in Canada]

Don’t like this at all. Really no need for it.

[blackdog]

Masking tape over camera ports.

[deks]

good...or gaffer tape

[House Atreides]

Personally, I won’t be installing this update
*******************************************
You do understand that the software update does not automatically result in this “tracking” feature? You’d have to actually affirmatively enable it plus affirmatively go out and download an app.

[Salamander]

Even though I disabled automatic DL and install, the damn phone is nearly shrieking every 15 minutes to install it, now.

I have no idea how to stop it, short of a hammer.

[Pontiac]

You do understand that the software update does not automatically result in this “tracking” feature? You’d have to actually affirmatively enable it plus affirmatively go out and download an app.

There are ways that your phone can be tracked without GPS or WiFi turned on, no special aps required.

But these aps would certainly make it easier.

[cranked]

Don’t own an Apple phone nor any Apple product. I am thankful, for a host of reasons. All the tech companies can ‘f’ off with all this tracking software BS, and it is BS!

[Swordmaker]

As i mentioned the other day, Apple has released iOS 13.5 and iPadOS 13.5, but the fear of the contact tracking is overblown. The API which enable such contact tracking assure ONLY anonymized data ever leaves your Device with an encrypted identifier tag so that you can log onto the server to learn if you have been in contact with anyone who has contracted COVID19, and so that you can notify the system that you have either tested positive or developed symptoms, so that your contacts tagged with your anonymous ID tag can also learn that they’ve been exposed. Epidemiologist only see the anonymous raw data. The API is turned OFF until you turn it on and download and activate an Interactive Anonymous Covid19 Contact App and give it permission to Bluetooth scan for other active Anonymous Covid19 Contact Apps near you and exchange tags. Every step requires the user’s permission to participate. MINE STAYS OFF! —PING!

APPLE GOOGLE ANDROID COVID19 CONTACT TRACKING PING!

If you want on or off the Apple/Mac/iOS Ping List, Freepmail me.

[Swordmaker]

No need. It will be installed and opened without your consent or knowledge. One government demerit earned, however.

NO, IT CAN’T BE, NOT ON THE APPLE DEVICES.

[Swordmaker]

It is time to buy cheap, sliding camera lens covers to block your smartphone cameras.

This has nothing to do with cameras.

[matt04]

Exactly. If they want to figure out where I’ve been and who I may have been around They are going to have to work for it.

[Swordmaker]

Don’t own an Apple phone nor any Apple product. I am thankful, for a host of reasons. All the tech companies can ‘f’ off with all this tracking software BS, and it is BS!

It’s being PUSHED on Android phones.

[cranked]

Let me clarify, as an ex-gov. terrorist analyst, as well as professor of/in study of terrorism, I own no ‘f’ing cellphone, of any type, period. Again, for a host of reason.

[Swordmaker]

Exactly. If they want to figure out where I’ve been and who I may have been around They are going to have to work for it.

If you’ve got an Android, dumb or smartphone, flip phone or or any kind, or any Apple phone, i.e. any cellular device made in the last eight years, they already KNOW where you’ve been. They all are mandated by law to have a GPS chip and antennas in them regardless whether they have a navigation app or not. That’s so if you call 911, your call is routed to the right emergency center and any services can be dispatched to your phone’s exact GEO location!

When your phone pings the cellular towers, it sends its GEO location so the system can better select the towers to serve your signal... but that data’s recorded and archived for all time in meta data at your carrier. How do you think investigator’s go back years and track where so-and-so’s cell phone was on the night he killed John Doe? It’s recorded in the cellular metadata!